scholarly journals 183 Improving Wellbeing Among UK Doctors Redeployed During Thecovid-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Faderani ◽  
M Monks ◽  
D Peprah ◽  
A Colori ◽  
L Allen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Health ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Role Concerns ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Training Opportunities

Abstract Background In response to the COVID-19, the NHS has implemented significant workforce changes to manage the increased and changing demand on healthcare services. We aimed to investigate the impact of such changes on the wellbeing of redeployed doctors. Method We conducted a survey at three NHS trusts over 2 weeks during the peak of the pandemic, asking redeployed doctors to rate their morale, work–life balance, perceived support and safety, and to voice concerns. Results 172 redeployed doctors responded to the survey. On exploring morale, 114 (66.3%) respondents felt confident in their new role, 113 (65.7%) felt satisfied or neutral with their new role and only 54 (31.4%) felt stressed at work. 114 (66.3%) doctors felt valued by their team and 136 (79%) felt valued by the general public. 111 (64.5%) had noticed an increase in the length of breaks and 153 (89%) felt that their rotas provided sufficient respite. 95 respondents (55.2%) did not feel confident in the Public Health personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance and similarly 94 (54.7%) did not feel safe while wearing PPE. The three most common concerns were training opportunities – 105 (61%), PPE – 99 (57.6%) and family health – 95 (55.2%). Conclusions Our findings suggest that, among the doctors surveyed, morale is higher than might be expected, with doctors feeling valued, confident, and well rested in their new role. Concerns about training opportunities/career progression, PPE and family safety need to be addressed to minimise the adverse effects on doctor’s wellbeing due to redeployment.

scholarly journals Long-term effectiveness of elderly health care voucher scheme strategies: a system dynamics simulation analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ka Chun Chong ◽  
Hong Fung ◽  
Carrie Ho Kwan Yam ◽  
Patsy Yuen Kwan Chau ◽  
Tsz Yu Chow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The elderly healthcare voucher (EHCV) scheme is expected to lead to an increase in the number of elderly people selecting private primary healthcare services and reduce reliance on the public sector in Hong Kong. However, studies thus far have reported that this scheme has not received satisfactory responses. In this study, we examined changes in the ratio of visits between public and private doctors in primary care (to measure reliance on the public sector) for different strategic scenarios in the EHCV scheme. Methods Based on comments from an expert panel, a system dynamics model was formulated to simulate the impact of various enhanced strategies in the scheme: increasing voucher amounts, lowering the age eligibility, and designating vouchers for chronic conditions follow-up. Data and statistics for the model calibration were collected from various sources. Results The simulation results show that the current EHCV scheme is unable to reduce the utilization of public healthcare services, as well as the ratio of visits between public and private primary care among the local aging population. When comparing three different tested scenarios, even if the increase in the annual voucher amount could be maintained at the current pace or the age eligibility can be lowered to include those aged 60 years, the impact on shifts from public-to-private utilization were insignificant. The public-to-private ratio could only be marginally reduced from 0.74 to 0.64 in the first several years. Nevertheless, introducing a chronic disease-oriented voucher could result in a significant drop of 0.50 in the public-to-private ratio during the early implementation phase. However, the effect could not be maintained for an extended period. Conclusions Our findings will assist officials in improving the design of the EHCV scheme, within the wider context of promoting primary care among the elderly. We suggest that an additional chronic disease-oriented voucher can serve as an alternative strategy. The scheme must be redesigned to address more specific objectives or provide a separate voucher that promotes under-utilized healthcare services (e.g., preventive care), instead of services designed for unspecified reasons, which may lead to concerns regarding exploitation.

COVID’s Effect on India’s Health Services: A Commentary

Social Change ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-492
Author(s):  
Imrana Qadeer
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
The Public ◽  
State Authority ◽  
Comprehensive Framework ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second Wave

Using a comprehensive framework (the state’s will to deliver, its institutional strength and its legitimacy), this article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public sector healthcare services in India. The power to deliver was explicit when the interventions were harsh, increasing the burden of death and disease on health services. But when it came to healthcare by the public sector we find a worsening of achievements of non-COVID ailments during the pandemic and an inability to tackle the second wave due to gaps in the nation's infrastructure, a centralised control undermining state authority; and visible results of a flawed policy that pushed further the agenda of making healthcare a profitable business.

The role of the child and family health nurse in the digital era: A literature review

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Suzanne Kelpsa
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health Nurse ◽  
The Impact

With the popularity of mobile devices and the internet, it has become apparent that there has been a change in both parenting and in the role of the child and family health nurse (CFHN). To gain a greater understanding of the impact, relevance and opportunity a CFHN role could make to parents accessing the internet, a literature review was conducted including 16 peer-reviewed research papers and one systematic review. Findings suggested that a large proportion of families value the role of social media platforms to feel connected and supported. Families indicated acceptance and approval with healthcare services by utilising online forums offering health interventions, programs and messages. However, despite the significance families place on digital media, the literature indicated that frequent mobile phone use could negatively influence parent–infant attachment. Recommendations to the CFHN include offering support and guidance to families with obtaining credible, evidenced-based online health information, along with showing an understanding of the negative impact of frequent, habitual mobile device use on the parent–child relationship and, ultimately, on childhood development.

scholarly journals Occupational health practices among dental care professionals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sean Banaee ◽  
Denise M. Claiborne ◽  
Muge Akpinar-Elci
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Practices ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Healthy Work

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a substantial burden on dental care professionals. While dentistry is known as one of the most exposed and high-risk professions, dental care professionals are indeed at even greater risk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, occupational health practices, personal protective equipment usage, and mental stressors during COVID-19 pandemic among dental care professionals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental care professionals who were subscribers to a dental hygiene journal using a self-administered online survey (n = 1047 respondents). Cross-tabulations were performed to determine differences in the responses to the statements related to different domains. RESULTS: COVID-19 impacted the healthy work-life balance (p <  0.001) and caused sleeping difficulty among the respondents (p <  0.001). Moreover, a lower response on changing respirators and gloves for each patient compared with before viral pandemic was observed (p <  0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing training on infection control, occupational health practices, and PPE usage can prevent the transmission of COVID-19 among dental care professionals and the public. Lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is a burden for applying occupational health practices in dental clinics and present a risk to the public. COVID-19 may contribute to developing psychological stress and disrupt healthy work-life balance among dental professionals.

scholarly journals Missing Diagnoses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Year in Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5335
Author(s):  
Héctor Pifarré i Arolas ◽  
Josep Vidal-Alaball ◽  
Joan Gil ◽  
Francesc López ◽  
Catia Nicodemo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Administrative Records ◽  
The Public ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on population health not only through COVID-positive cases, but also via the disruption of healthcare services, which in turn has impacted the diagnosis and treatment of all other diseases during this time. We study changes in all new registered diagnoses in ICD-10 groups during 2020 with respect to a 2019 baseline. We compare new diagnoses in 2019 and 2020 based on administrative records of the public primary health system in Central Catalonia, Spain, which cover over 400,000 patients and 3 million patient visits. We study the ratio of new diagnoses between 2019 and 2020 and find an average decline of 31.1% in new diagnoses, with substantial drops in April (61.1%), May (55.6%), and November (52%). Neoplasms experience the largest decline (49.7%), with heterogeneity in the magnitudes of the declines across different types of cancer diagnoses. While we find evidence of temporal variation in new diagnoses, reductions in diagnoses early in the year are not recouped by the year end. The observed decline in new diagnoses across all diagnosis groups suggest a large number of untreated and undetected cases across conditions. Our findings provide a year-end summary of the impact of the pandemic on healthcare activities and can help guide health authorities to design evidence-based plans to target under-diagnosed conditions in 2021.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in aged care homes: a comparison of effects initial government policies had in the UK (primarily focussing on England) and Australia during the first wave

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kam Yin Chan ◽  
Mary-Louise Mclaws ◽  
Duncan Ronald Forsyth
Keyword(s):  
Aged Care ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Lower Priority ◽  
High Death ◽  
Viral Testing ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact globally, with older people living in aged care homes suffering high death rates. Objectives We aimed to compare the impact of initial government policies on this vulnerable older population between the UK and Australia during the first wave of attack. Methods We searched websites of governments in the UK and Australia and media outlets. We examined the key policies including the national lockdown dates and the distribution of some important resources (personal protective equipment and testing) and the effects of these initial policies on the mortality rates in the aged care homes during the first wave of attack of COVID-19. Results We found that both countries had prioritized resources to hospitals over aged care homes during the first wave of attack. Both countries had lower priority for aged care residents in hospitals (e.g. discharging without testing for COVID-19 or discouraging admissions). However, deaths in aged care homes were 270 times higher in the UK than in Australia as on 7 May 2020 (despite UK having a population only 2.5 times larger than Australia). The lower fatality rate in Australia may have been due to the earlier lockdown strategy when the total daily cases were low in Australia (118) compared to the UK (over 1000), as well as the better community viral testing regime in Australia. Conclusion In conclusion, the public health policy in Australia aimed towards earlier intervention with earlier national lockdown and more viral testing to prevent new cases. This primary prevention could have resulted in more lives being saved. In contrast, the initial policy in the UK focussed mainly on protecting resources for hospitals, and there was a delay in national lockdown intervention and lower viral testing rate, resulting in more lives lost in the aged care sector.

scholarly journals Technical Efficiency of Regional Public Hospitals in China Based on the Three-Stage DEA

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9383
Author(s):  
Zhensheng Chen ◽  
Xueli Chen ◽  
Xiaoqing Gan ◽  
Kaixuan Bai ◽  
Tomas Baležentis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Operational Environment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Social ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Many countries are facing the increasing cost of healthcare services and the low efficiency of public hospitals. These issues are also evident in China. This paper offers a comprehensive assessment of the efficiency of public hospitals operating in China’s 31 regions. The impact of the third round of reform of the health system in 2009 is assessed based on the three-stage data envelopment analysis procedure. The time period from 2011 to 2018 is covered in this study. Due to different functions performed by the public hospitals and other ones, the number of patients with infectious diseases is incorporated as an output variable reflecting the social function. The outpatient visits and inpatient visits are considered to reflect the outputs related to the private functions. The results imply an increase in the mean efficiency of public hospitals from 0.927 to 0.981 after taking the impact of environmental variables and statistic noise into account. These results indicate that the efficiency of public hospitals is dependent in the operational environment. There are 11 regions whose hospitals operate on the efficiency frontier during the whole period covered. Therefore, the Chinese government should reasonably design and apply the regulatory tools to improve the efficiency of public hospitals.

scholarly journals TUBERCULOSIS DURING THE COVID-19: IMPACT, CHALLENGES AND MANAGEMENT

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Spl-1-SARS-CoV-2) ◽  
pp. S79-S86
Author(s):  
Manish Dhawan ◽  
◽  
Steffy Angural ◽  
Manisha Parmar ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Viral Transmission ◽  
The Public ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Prevention Activities ◽  
The Impact

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused substantial disruptions to health services due to overburdening the health system. Hence, there are severe obstructions in tuberculosis (TB) services in India's primary health care and hospital settings. Several restrictions, such as lockdown, self-isolations, and other public health guidelines to prevent viral transmission, impacted the delivery of essential facilities for TB management. A significant reduction in tuberculosis testing in the public health sector has been noticed, which is an alarming situation in India. However, there are several risks in managing TB due to rising cases of COVID-19 but maintaining the most critical prevention activities and healthcare services for tuberculosis could substantially reduce the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review focuses on the impact and challenges of COVID-19 on tuberculosis. Further, the strategies to eradicate tuberculosis in the era of COVID-19 are also discussed.

scholarly journals Hospital Pharmacy Response to Covid-19 Pandemic in Italy: What We Learned From the First Outbreak Wave

2021 ◽  
pp. 089719002110236
Author(s):  
Vera Damuzzo ◽  
Riccardo Bertin ◽  
Daniele Mengato ◽  
Marco Chiumente ◽  
Melania Rivano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Devices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Settings ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improve Health

Background: When COVID-19 pandemic started, Italian hospital pharmacists faced multiple challenges and change their work practices. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the impact of COVID-19 emergency on pharmaceutical care provided by pharmacists during the first wave of the pandemic. Issues related to pharmacist’s involvement in the pandemic management were: changes in activities, support received by authorities and pharmacists’ own perceived role in the Health System. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a web survey was conducted between May and June 2020 collecting information from pharmacists, members of Italian Society of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 113 (11.4%) completed the questionnaire. The cohort was divided in 2 arms: pharmacists who worked in severely COVID-19 affected areas (High Spread Regions) and those employed in less affected areas (Low Spread Regions). Results: The changes in pharmacy work settings reflected the increase of logistics area and non-sterile clinical galenic, and reduction of clinical tasks. The most demanding challenge was referred to shortages of medical devices and drugs, 61/113 pharmacists reported difficulty in obtaining products compliant to quality standards. National Institutions and Regional Governments provided a greater perceived support. More than 50% of participants felt that their role did not change if compared to other health professionals. Conclusions: Despite some limitations related to their clinical activity, pharmacists played a crucial role in supplying personal protective equipment, medical devices and medications to improve health outcomes during this emergency. The results may guide pharmacists in future actions to improve the management of the pandemic.

A New Way of Working

2017 ◽  
pp. 113-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Handley ◽  
Susan McGrath-Champ ◽  
Philomena Leung
Keyword(s):  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Public Rhetoric ◽  
The Public ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Big Four

This chapter provides evidence of the practical implementation of an aspect of ‘new ways of working', that is, flexible work arrangements (FWA) in the Australian accounting profession. It reports and analyses the results of interviews of twenty accounting professionals conducted in 2014. FWA refers to the interrelationship between temporal and spatial flexibility which are facilitated by technology. In this chapter, evidence is provided of the public rhetoric regarding FWA by accounting firms, particularly the Big Four firms. This is contrasted with anecdotal testimony from the interviews to reveal the success with which these goals have been adopted and implemented across the accounting profession, and the impact they have on work-life balance (WLB). The findings reveal inconsistencies and prejudices still in place in Australian accounting firms and suggest that, although there has been some success in this area, some conservative views still need challenging.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document