scholarly journals In the search of solutions to improve healthcare access for migrants and refugees in Athens, Greece

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Gionakis ◽  
M Ntetsika
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Interdisciplinary Cooperation ◽  
General Information ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Unaccompanied Minors ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
French Speaking

Abstract Background Migrants and refugees face many challenges in their effort to access the health services. The Metaplan© methodology was applied to generate and prioritize solutions and tools for pilot interventions to improve migrants’ healthcare access in Athens. Methods. The Metaplan sessions included three groups: professionals working with refugees and migrants, mixed gender French-speaking migrants and refugees, and unaccompanied minors (11-16yrs). Results Professionals prioritized the communication issue, particularly a proper delivery of the language courses, and the enhancement of cultural competence in professionals. Besides, the instrumentalization of ‘vulnerability’ was focused on the relocation assessment. They suggested trainings to improve the collaboration between interpreters and professionals and build cultural competence, along with creation of migrant-friendly hospitals. The migrants underscored a gap between their needs and the current efforts to support their integration, such as language courses, job consultancy, and general information. Their access to health services was hindered by the lack of language skills and intercultural competences of providers. The migrants prioritized initiatives to overcome the challenges of everyday life, raise awareness and sensitize the local community on their realities, and tackle racism. The unaccompanied minors underlined the lack of shelters and a long bureaucratic procedure for the placement in a shelter as some experienced homelessness. They also pointed out the inefficiency of emergency health services. The solutions as perceived by this group included a proper assignment of homeless minors to shelters, better emergency units and more information about the health services. Conclusions The trainings for both health professionals and interpreters for the interdisciplinary cooperation and enhanced cultural competence are needed, along with informative workshops and flyers on health rights and services.

scholarly journals Are nurses meeting the needs of men in primary care?

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 319
Author(s):  
Del Lovett ◽  
Bodil Rasmussen ◽  
Carol Holden ◽  
Patricia M. Livingston
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Financing System ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
Comprehensive Primary Health Care ◽  
Access To Health

Meeting men’s health needs by improving healthcare service access is a key objective of comprehensive primary health care. The aims of this qualitative study were to explore the perception of nurses in men’s health services and to describe men’s expectation of the nurse. The comparative component identifies the barriers and facilitators to improved access to health services. A purposive sample of 19 nurses and 20 men was recruited from metropolitan and regional settings in the state of Victoria, Australia, and each participant was interviewed individually or as part of three focus groups. The main findings were: nurses and men were unclear on the role of the nurse in men’s health; and health promotion provided by nurses was predominantly opportunistic. Both participant groups indicated barriers to healthcare access related to: the culture and environment in general practice; limitation of Australia’s Medicare healthcare financing system; out-of-pocket costs, waiting time and lack of extended hours; and men not wanting to be perceived as complainers. Facilitators related to: positive inter-professional relations; effective communication; personal qualities; and level of preparedness of nurse education. The findings demonstrate a need for the role to be better understood by both men and nurses in order to develop alternative approaches to meeting men’s healthcare needs.

scholarly journals Healthcare services utilization among international students in Ankara, Turkey: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abednego Nzyuko Masai ◽  
Bahar Güçiz-Doğan ◽  
Polet Njeri Ouma ◽  
Israel Nyaburi Nyadera ◽  
Victor Kipkoech Ruto
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Services Utilization

Abstract Background While international students form an increasing population of higher education students in Turkey, there is limited empirical evidence about their health services utilization. The study aim was to investigate healthcare access among a group of international students studying in Ankara city and identify potential barriers that affect full healthcare utilization. Method A total of 535 international students from 83 countries completed an online-based questionnaire. The survey was conducted from September until October 2020. Variables between groups within the study sample were compared using ANOVA and Chi-square tests (with Fisher’s exact test). Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between variables related to access to health services. Results Of the study population, 80.6% accessed the general practitioner (GP), 40% accessed the student health centres, and 11.4% were admitted to the hospital at least once. About 80% of international students reported changing their views to access healthcare more because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion Lack of awareness of healthcare support systems, perceived stigma associated with mental health services, and language barriers were the main barriers affecting healthcare access by international students. Implications Study findings indicate the need for education of international students on available healthcare, targeted health promotion, and training of health providers on effective communication.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Provision of Health Services and Barriers to Treatment for Chronic Diseases among Syrian Refugees in Turkey: A Review of Literature and Stakeholder Interviews

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (15) ◽  
pp. 2660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Alawa ◽  
Parmida Zarei ◽  
Kaveh Khoshnood
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Common Barriers ◽  
Barriers To Healthcare Access

Background: While Turkey hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, the provision of health services for chronic disease among Syrian refugees in Turkey has been inadequate and understudied. This paper explores Turkish healthcare policies surrounding Syrian refugees’ access to health services for chronic diseases. Methods: We conducted a literature review and supplementary stakeholder interviews to evaluate the provision of chronic health services and the most common barriers to healthcare access among Syrian refugees in Turkey. Results: Though access to treatment for displaced Syrians has improved throughout the past five years, five primary barriers persist: registration procedure regulations, navigation of a new health system, language barriers, fear of adverse treatment, and cost. Conclusions: To drive improvements in healthcare for chronic diseases among Syrian refugees in Turkey, we recommend making registration procedures more accessible, developing more healthcare options in patients’ native language, increasing human resources, and advocating for more research surrounding chronic health conditions among refugees.

scholarly journals Community engagement towards the development of health promotion tools: Summary findings of Metaplan sessions in Barcelona

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Evangelidou
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Capital City ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Access To Health Services

Abstract Background Spain has been a popular destination for immigrants mainly because of its cultural proximity with Latin America and its geographical proximity with Africa. More than 70% of migrants in the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia reside in its capital city, Barcelona. The community engagement in the development of tools, which facilitate access to health services while ensuring quality healthcare provision to Vulnerable Migrants and Refugees (VMRs), is pivotal in health promotion initiatives. Methods The participation of the target population in the decision-making process over strategies to increase healthcare access was assured by employing the Metaplan© methodology. Five Metaplan group sessions were conducted in Barcelona with VMR: One with professionals (N = 13), two with young adults (N = 4, N = 6), one with women (N = 6) and one with Latin Americans (N = 9). All sessions were conducted at the Community Medicine Unit of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Results Two main categories of solutions were found through a thematic analysis. Primarily, the solutions associated to initiatives that the host community needs to undertake included: promotion of socio-economic stability for VMRs, communication campaigns though informative leaflets and orientation sessions on immigrants’ rights and available health services, as well as community-based interventions such as empowering the work of community agents/“health champions”, establishing mobile clinics and setting-up (peer) support groups. The second category of solutions was related to the personal barriers VMRs may face: improvement/acquisition of language skills and the importance of addressing one’s mental health problems. Conclusions Both the host community and the immigrants themselves are co-authors of the design and implementation of efficient health promotion strategies towards healthcare access and improvement of healthcare quality provision for VMRs in the given socio-cultural context of Barcelona city.

scholarly journals The Quest to Extend Health Services to Vulnerable Substance Users in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the Context of an Unfolding Economic Crisis

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noa Krawczyk ◽  
Deanna Kerrigan ◽  
Francisco Inácio Bastos
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health System ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Crack Cocaine ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Government Programs ◽  
Substance Users ◽  
Unified Health System ◽  
Harsh Criticism

Calls to address crack-cocaine use in Brazil among homeless and street-frequenting populations who are in urgent need of health services have questioned the capacity of the Brazilian Unified Health System to attend to the nation’s most marginalized citizens. In recent years, Brazil has launched several actions to escalate care for substance users, yet many obstacles hindering accessibility and effectiveness of services remain. Paradoxically, these actions have been implemented in the context of a growing economic crisis, and expanding services for a population of poor and stigmatized substance users while cutting other government programs tends to elicit harsh criticism from citizens. In consequence of such prospects, this commentary aims to discuss barriers marginalized substance users face in accessing health services that are at risk of worsening with government cutbacks. Using Rio de Janeiro as an example, we explore two primary issues: the resource-strained, under-staffed and decentralized nature of the Brazilian Unified Health System and the pervading stigma that bars vulnerable citizens from official structures and services. Abandoning initiated government efforts to increase access to health services would risk maintaining vulnerable citizens at the margins of public structures, inhibiting the opportunity to offer this population humane and urgently needed treatment and care.

Trends in access to health services and financial protection in China between 2003 and 2011: a cross-sectional study

The Lancet ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 379 (9818) ◽  
pp. 805-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Meng ◽  
Ling Xu ◽  
Yaoguang Zhang ◽  
Juncheng Qian ◽  
Min Cai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Financial Protection ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Access To Health

Integrated community-based sexual health services for young people in urban areas: are we meeting the needs of the local community?

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 713-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
K M Forbes ◽  
N Rahman ◽  
S Mccrae ◽  
I Reeves
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Hiv Test

Community-based sexual health services (SHS) are intended to improve access for people who may have difficulty attending traditional genitourinary medicine clinics. The objective of this study was to review uptake of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing in an outreach clinic for those under 25 in an area where Black and minority ethnic groups comprise the majority of the local population. A retrospective case-notes review was undertaken of those attending. Standards were that Fraser guidelines should be completed in all under 16-year-old and all clients should be offered STI testing, HIV testing and contraception (if applicable) in accordance with local standards. One hundred and seventeen clients attended. Ten percent self-reported ethnicity was Asian. Thirty-six (31%) clients tested for chlamydia. Thirty (26%) had an HIV test. Five (14% of those tested) had a positive nucleic acid amplification test for chlamydia. Five (13%) of those requesting long term contraception had STI testing. This service has successfully improved access to STI screening. However, there may have been missed opportunities to offer tests in those requesting contraception. Under-representation of those of non-white ethnicity suggests access to SHS may be a particular problem and further work is required to improve the sexual health of the local community.

Resource Allocation with Sigmoidal Demands: Mobile Healthcare Units and Service Adoption

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Alban ◽  
Philippe Blaettchen ◽  
Harwin de Vries ◽  
Luk N. Van Wassenhove
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Formal Model ◽  
Problem Definition ◽  
Gradient Boosting ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Mobile Healthcare ◽  
Sigmoidal Functions ◽  
Allocation Decisions

Problem definition: Achieving broad access to health services (a target within the sustainable development goals) requires reaching rural populations. Mobile healthcare units (MHUs) visit remote sites to offer health services to these populations. However, limited exposure, health literacy, and trust can lead to sigmoidal (S-shaped) adoption dynamics, presenting a difficult obstacle in allocating limited MHU resources. It is tempting to allocate resources in line with current demand, as seen in practice. However, to maximize access in the long term, this may be far from optimal, and insights into allocation decisions are limited. Academic/practical relevance: We present a formal model of the long-term allocation of MHU resources as the optimization of a sum of sigmoidal functions. We develop insights into optimal allocation decisions and propose pragmatic methods for estimating our model’s parameters from data available in practice. We demonstrate the potential of our approach by applying our methods to family planning MHUs in Uganda. Methodology: Nonlinear optimization of sigmoidal functions and machine learning, especially gradient boosting, are used. Results: Although the problem is NP-hard, we provide closed form solutions to particular cases of the model that elucidate insights into the optimal allocation. Operationalizable heuristic allocations, grounded in these insights, outperform allocations based on current demand. Our estimation approach, designed for interpretability, achieves better predictions than standard methods in the application. Managerial implications: Incorporating the future evolution of demand, driven by community interaction and saturation effects, is key to maximizing access with limited resources. Instead of proportionally assigning more visits to sites with high current demand, a group of sites should be prioritized. Optimal allocation among prioritized sites aims at equalizing demand at the end of the planning horizon. Therefore, more visits should generally be allocated to sites where the cumulative demand potential is higher and counterintuitively, often those where demand is currently lower.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document