scholarly journals Early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions on ambulance missions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri Laukkanen ◽  
Sanna Lahtinen ◽  
Janne Liisanantti ◽  
Timo Kaakinen ◽  
Ari Ehrola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Phase ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Group A ◽  
New Strategies

Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a major impact on health care services globally. Recent studies report that emergency departments have experienced a significant decline in the number of admitted patients in the early phase of the pandemic. To date, research regarding the influence of COVID-19 on emergency medical services (EMS) is limited. The present study investigates a change in the number and characteristics of EMS missions in the early phase of the pandemic. Methods All EMS missions in the Northern Ostrobothnia region, Finland (population 295 500) between 1 March to 30 June 2020 were screened and analyzed as the study group. A control group was composed from the EMS calls between the corresponding months in the years 2016–2019. Results A total of 74 576 EMS missions were screened for the study. Within the first two months after the first COVID-19 cases in the study area, the decline in the number of EMS missions was 5.7% – 13% compared to the control group average. EMS time intervals (emergency call to dispatch, dispatch, en-route, on-scene and hospital handover) prolonged in the COVID-19 period. Dispatches concerning mental health problems increased most in the study period (+1.2%, p < 0.001). Only eleven confirmed COVID-19 infections were encountered by EMS in the study period. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the present COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions lead to changes in the EMS usage. These preliminary findings emphasize the importance of developing new strategies and protocols in response to the oncoming pandemic waves.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Effectiveness of Childbirth Preparation Courses on Women’s Self-Efficacy among Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Religious Women in Israel

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 818
Author(s):  
Liat Korn ◽  
Gideon Koren ◽  
Ayelet Yaakov ◽  
Galit Madar ◽  
Ayala Blau
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Course Delivery ◽  
Orthodox Jewish ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Jewish Women ◽  
Religious Women ◽  
Birth Preparation ◽  
Group A ◽  
Childbirth Preparation

Background: This study examined the effectiveness of a birth preparation course on coping with childbirth among primigravid ultra-orthodox Jewish women in Israel. Methods: In total, 130 ultra-orthodox 25–35-week primigravid women were divided into a study (n = 100, participated in birth preparation courses) and a control (n = 30, did not participate in the courses) group. A questionnaire was delivered three times: T1—before the course/delivery, T2—two–three days after delivery, and T3—a month after delivery. Results: At T3, self-efficacy among the study group was higher than in the control group. Differences in self-efficacy were found over time regardless of the group (F(2,246) = 12.83, p < 0.001), as a time–group interaction effect (F(2,246) = 10.20, p < 0.01). Self-efficacy in the study group (Mean, M = 3.40, Standard deviation, SD = 0.63 at T1) dropped to M = 3.06, SD = 0.76 at T2 and rose to M = 3.34, SD = 0.64 at T3. In the control group, self-efficacy (M = 3.53, SD = 0.56 at T1) dropped to M = 3.26, SD = 0.63 at T2 and to M = 2.95, SD = 0.76 at T3. Discussion: The childbirth preparation course was found to be effective in raising self-efficacy among primigravid ultra-orthodox religious women when compared to the control group.

Supporting Young People at School With High Mental Health Needs

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Rickwood
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health

AbstractFor young people still at school, the school setting is vital to their mental health and wellbeing. Not only does the school environment have a direct and indirect impact on mental health, it provides an opportunistic setting in which to identify and respond to emerging mental health problems. To do this effectively, schools and school staff must work in collaboration with the young people themselves, their families, and other support services within the community, particularly primary health care services, including general practice. The importance of developing effective partnerships and care pathways between schools and the primary health care sector is being increasingly acknowledged, and initiatives such as MindMatters Plus GP have advanced our understanding in this area.

Does laryngopharyngeal reflux affect healing and recovery after tonsillectomy?

2007 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 603-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Elwany ◽  
Y A Nour ◽  
E A Magdy
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ◽  
Ph Monitoring ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
Blinded Study ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Control Group Group

AbstractIntroduction:Laryngopharyngeal reflux is increasingly being implicated in several otolaryngological disorders.Aims:To study a potential correlation between pre-operative laryngopharyngeal reflux and wound healing and recovery after tonsillectomy, based on subjective and objective findings.Materials and methods:A prospective, blinded study was undertaken, including 60 patients scheduled for tonsillectomy, divided into two equal groups: a study group (group A) with pre-operative laryngopharyngeal reflux documented using ambulatory 24-hour pH monitoring; and a control group (group B) without laryngopharyngeal reflux.Results:Group A had significantly higher pain scores on the seventh and 14th post-operative days (p = 0.022 and p = 0.000, respectively) and took a significantly longer time to return to normal eating (p = 0.013), compared with group B. Group A also showed significantly slower healing on the seventh and 14th post-operative days, as estimated by assessing the grade of post-operative slough formation (p = 0.016 and p = 0.029, respectively). A significant correlation between the number of pharyngeal reflux episodes and the degree of post-operative slough was also found.Conclusions:Laryngopharyngeal reflux can significantly decrease wound healing following tonsillectomy. Therefore, pre-operative recognition and management of this condition is desirable in order to eliminate its negative post-operative effect.

scholarly journals Effect of cervical headgear on dental arch area, shape and interarch dimensions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Heino ◽  
Heta Kokko ◽  
Ville Vuollo ◽  
Pertti Pirttiniemi
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Early Phase ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Polynomial Equation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dental Arch ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Class Ii Malocclusion ◽  
Angle Class Ii

Abstract Purpose The goal was to study the effects of early cervical headgear treatment on maxillary and mandibular dental arch area, shape and interarch dimensions. Methods The total study group comprised 67 children aged 7.6 years (standard deviation 0.3) with Angle class II malocclusion collected between 1992 and 1996. The children were randomly divided into two groups of equal size. In the first group, cervical headgear treatment was started immediately and undertaken for 2 years. The remaining patients served as untreated controls. Dental casts were taken and scanned at the beginning of treatment (T0) and at the 2‑year (T1) and 4‑year follow-up (T2). Three-dimensional landmarks describing the positions of maxillary and mandibular incisors, canines, first and second premolars and first molars were used to calculate and visualize the maxillary and mandibular dental arch area and shape using the polynomial equation y = Ax6 + Bx2. Results Significant changes in the shape and area of both maxillary and mandibular dental arches were induced with cervical headgear. The headgear increased dental arch area, sagittal dimensions at the mid-sagittal line and transversal dimensions at all of the measured levels in both dental arches compared to the control group. Conclusions Cervical headgear is an effective treatment device to gain space in both dental arches. Furthermore, when used as an early phase treatment, relapse is relatively small compared to the gained space.

scholarly journals Impact of School-Based Health Centers on Students with Mental Health Problems

2008 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 768-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff J. Guo ◽  
Terrance J. Wade ◽  
Kathryn N. Keller
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Care Services ◽  
School Based ◽  
School Based Health Centers

Objectives. School-based health centers (SBHCs) play an increasingly major role in providing mental health services for students. This study evaluated the impact of SBHCs on mental health-care services and psychosocial health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods. Four SBHC intervention and two matched non-SBHC school districts were examined from 1997 to 2003. The SBHC intervention began in 2000. Data included child and parent pediatric HRQOL and Ohio Medicaid claims. A longitudinal quasi-experimental time-series repeated measures design was used for this study, involving analysis of covariance to assess health costs and regression analyses for HRQOL scores. Results. After the SBHC program, proportions of students accessing mental health-care services for urban and rural SBHC intervention schools increased 5.6% (χ2=39.361, p<0.0001) and 5.9% (χ2=5.545, p<0.0001), respectively, compared with increases of 2.6% (χ2=2.670, p=0.1023) and 0.2% (χ2=0.006, p=0.9361) for urban and rural non-SBHC schools, respectively. Using data from 109 students with mental health problems based on Medicaid claims, the study found SBHC students had significantly lower total health-care costs (F=5.524, p=0.005) and lower costs of mental health services (F=4.820, p=0.010) compared with non-SBHC students. While improvements over time in HRQOL for SBHC students compared with non-SBHC students and students from non-SBHC schools were observed, only some were statistically significant. Conclusions. SBHC programs increase the proportion of students who receive mental health services and may improve pediatric HRQOL. SBHC students with mental health problems had lower total Medicaid reimbursements compared with non-SBHC students.

Mental Health in Sri Lanka: Challenges for Primary Health Care

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudarshini Fernandopulle ◽  
Neil Thalagala ◽  
Simon Barraclough
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Community Health Services ◽  
Military Conflict ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Policy And Planning

Using a societal approach to the determinants of mental health, a survey of knowledge about mental health problems in Sri Lanka is presented, including the consequences of years of civil and military conflict and economic retardation. Sri Lanka has the highest suicide rate for females, and one of the highest rates for males, in the world. Mental health care services and their limitations are described. Major problems include under-funding of services and medicinal drugs, overcrowded institutions, shortages of trained personnel, and under-developed community health services. Desirable policy and planning reforms are identified; in particular the need for expanded primary mental health care.

Socioeconomic status and primary health service use for mental health problems among immigrants with short and long lengths of stay

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Lindsay Straiton ◽  
Anne Reneflot ◽  
Esperanza Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – High socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with better health and lower use of health care services in the general population. Among immigrants, the relationship appears less consistent. The purpose of this paper is to determine if the relationship between income level (a proxy for SES) and use of primary health care services for mental health problems differs for natives and five immigrant groups in Norway. It also explores the moderating effect of length of stay (LoS) among immigrants. Design/methodology/approach – Using data from two registers with national-level coverage, logistic regression analyses with interactions were carried out to determine the association between income level and having used primary health care services for mental health problems. Findings – For Norwegian men and women there was a clear negative relationship between income and service use. Interaction analyses suggested that the relationship differed for all immigrant groups compared with Norwegians. When stratifying by LoS, income was not associated with service use among recently arrived immigrants but was negatively associated among immigrants staying more than two years (with the exception of Pakistani and Iraqi women). Research limitations/implications – Country of origin and LoS should be considered when applying measures of SES in immigrant health research. Social implications – There may be an initial transition period for recently arrived immigrants where competing factors mask the association between SES and service use. Originality/value – This study benefits from nationwide coverage, eliminating self-selection biases. It demonstrates the complexity of the relationship between SES and health care use.

scholarly journals Repeated short cycles of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and kidney injury in patients with spinal degenerative-dystrophic diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 94-97
Author(s):  
D. M. Bichurina ◽  
I. Z. Gaydukova ◽  
D. А. Patrikeeva ◽  
A. P. Rebrov
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Creatinine Ratio ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Group A ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Objective: to evaluate kidney function in patients with spinal degenerative-dystrophic diseases (SDDDs) who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as repeated short cycles of treatment for severe back pain.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 97 patients with SDDDs who took NSAIDs for back pain (a study group). A control group consisted of sexand age-matched healthy individuals who had not used NSAIDs within the past year (n=40). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the CKD-EPI equation and markers of kidney injury (albuminuria and globulinuria) were measured.Results. In the study group, GFR was decreased to <90 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 61 (62.9%) patients, to <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 11 (11.3%); the mean GFR was 77.5 [68.0; 89.0] ml/min/1.73 m2; in the control group, a decline in GFR to 89–60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was recorded in 35 (62.5%) cases; this indicator was >90 ml/min/1.73 m2 in the remaining 15 (37.5%) cases; the mean GFR was 82.5 [70.8; 90.0] ml/min/1.73 m2 (p≥0.05 for all pairwise comparisons). A decrease in GFR to <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was found in 11 (11.3%) patients in the study group and in nobody in the control group (p=0.026). Elevated albuminuria was noted in 74 (76.3%) patients with SDDDs and in 9 (22.5%) healthy individuals (p<0.05). Albumin/creatinine ratio was 57.1 [33.8; 82.4] mg/g in the study group and 25.0 [17.5; 32.9] mg/g in the control group (p<0.0001). Increased globulinuria was established in all the patients with SDDDs and only in 3 (7.5%) healthy examinees. Globulin/creatinine ratio was 134.7 [77.5; 197.7] mg/g in the study group and 12.9 [0.5; 18.1] mg/g in the control group (p<0.0001).Conclusion. A decline in GFR to <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was more often seen in the patients taking NSAIDs for spine pain caused by SDDDs than in the healthy individuals. In case of comparable GFR, the level of kidney injury markers was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group, which suggests that patients with SDDDs who take NSAIDs have subclinical tubulointerstitial and glomerular changes.

scholarly journals A Technique for Wound Cavity Closure after Coccyx Resection in Experiment

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-162
Author(s):  
I. I. Khidiatov ◽  
M. V. Gerasimov ◽  
R. R. Kudoyarov
Keyword(s):  
Bone Mass ◽  
Animal Experiment ◽  
Wound Dehiscence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Surgical Wound ◽  
Secondary Intention ◽  
Group A ◽  
Cavity Closure ◽  
Inflammatory Changes

Introduction. Closing the wound cavity after the coccyx resection in patients with posttraumatic coccygodynia remains an issue unresolved. Closing the wound cavity with local tissues often leads to the wound dehiscence due to excessive tension which in turn leads to suppuration and prolonged healing.This paper aims to assess experimentally the effectiveness of using ground autograft bone of the coccyx removed for the closure of the surgical wound.Materials and methods. In the animal experiment the coccyx resection was performed under a combined anaesthesia in six pigs (three in the study group and three in control). In the control group the wound edges were sutured to its floor. In the study group after the coccyx resection the ground bone mass made of the coccyx resected was implanted into the wound cavity.Results and discussion. In the control group the wound dehiscence was registered in all the animals. After the animals were taken out of the experiment it was established that in the study group a new consolidated bony conglomerate was formed without any pronounced inflammatory changes around the wound. In control the wound cavity healed with secondary intention.Conclusions. The study confirms the effectiveness of using ground autograft bone for the closure of the wound cavity.

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