scholarly journals How primary healthcare workers obtain information during consultations to aid safe prescribing in low-income and lower middle-income countries: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. e002094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Smith ◽  
Michelle Helena van Velthoven ◽  
Nguyen Duc Truong ◽  
Nguyen Hai Nam ◽  
Vũ Phan Anh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Quality Of Reporting ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Registration Number

BackgroundWe systematically reviewed the evidence on how primary healthcare workers obtain information during consultations to support decision-making for prescribing in low and lower middle-income countries.MethodsWe searched electronic databases, consulted the Healthcare Information For All network, hand searched reference lists, ran citation searches of included studies and emailed authors of identified papers. Two reviewers extracted data and appraised quality with relevant tools.ResultsOf 60 497 records found, 23 studies met our inclusion criteria. Fourteen studies were observational and nine were interventional. Frequently mentioned sources of information were books, leaflets, guidelines, aids and the internet. These sources were sometimes out of date and health workers reported being confused which to use. Internet access varied and even when it was available, use was limited by technical issues. Of the five electronic tools that were assessed, four had positive outcomes. Tools assisted prescribers with medicine selection and dosage calculations, which increased prescribing accuracy. The quality of reporting varied but was overall low.DiscussionStudies indicated a lack of up-to-date and relevant medicine information in low and lower middle-income settings. Internet-based sources appeared to be useful when it is possible to download content for offline use and to update when there is internet access. Electronic tools showed promise, but their accuracy needs to be validated and they should focus on giving actionable advice to guide prescribers.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018091088.

scholarly journals Targeting strategies of mHealth interventions for maternal health in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e019345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onaedo Ilozumba ◽  
Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade Abejirinde ◽  
Marjolein Dieleman ◽  
Azucena Bardají ◽  
Jacqueline E W Broerse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
English Language ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Electronic Health

IntroductionRecently, there has been a steady increase in mobile health (mHealth) interventions aimed at improving maternal health of women in low-income and middle-income countries. While there is evidence indicating that these interventions contribute to improvements in maternal health outcomes, other studies indicate inconclusive results. This uncertainty has raised additional questions, one of which pertains to the role of targeting strategies in implementing mHealth interventions and the focus on pregnant women and health workers as target groups. This review aims to assess who is targeted in different mHealth interventions and the importance of targeting strategies in maternal mHealth interventions.Methods and analysisWe will search for peer-reviewed, English-language literature published between 1999 and July 2017 in PubMed, Web of Knowledge (Science Direct, EMBASE) and Cochrane Central Registers of Controlled Trials. The study scope is defined by the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes framework: P, community members with maternal or reproductive needs; I, electronic health or mHealth programmes geared at improving maternal or reproductive health; C, other non-electronic health or mHealth-based interventions; O, maternal health measures including family planning, antenatal care attendance, health facility delivery and postnatal care attendance.Ethics and disseminationThis study is a review of already published or publicly available data and needs no ethical approval. Review results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at international conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017072280.

scholarly journals How do primary healthcare workers in low-income and middle-income countries obtain information during consultations to aid safe prescribing? A systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e023015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Smith ◽  
Michelle Helena van Velthoven ◽  
Neil Pakenham-Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Inappropriate Prescribing ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Use Of Resources

IntroductionThere is a wide variety in prescribing by primary healthcare workers in low-income and middle-income countries. While there is much information available, both online and offline, there is variation in quality and relevance to different settings. Acting on incorrect or out-of-date information can lead to inappropriate prescribing and impact on patient safety. The aim of this review is to systematically review the evidence on how primary healthcare workers obtain information during consultations to prescribe safely and appropriately.Methods and analysisWe will identify relevant articles by searching electronic databases: Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CABI Global Health (Ovid), WHO global health library, POPLINE, Africa-Wide Information (Ebsco), Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (Ebsco), ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Also, the Health Information For All network will be consulted and evidence databases (TRIP database, Epistemonikos, PDQ Evidence) will be searched. We will hand-search reference lists, run citation searches of included studies and email authors of identified papers. Observational and intervention studies involving primary healthcare workers in low-income and middle-income countries who prescribe and/or dispense medication will be included. The primary outcome is the proportion of healthcare workers obtaining information relevant to consultations from different sources. Secondary outcomes are the change in healthcare provider and patient knowledge or behaviour, adverse outcomes and use of resources. We will exclude studies focusing on secondary care. We anticipate a limited scope for meta-analysis and will provide a narrative overview of findings and tabular summaries of extracted data.Ethics and disseminationNo ethics approval is required. Findings will be disseminated through the Healthcare Information For All network.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018091088.

scholarly journals No time for change? Impact of contextual factors on the effect of training primary care healthcare workers in Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam on how to manage asthma in children - A FRESH AIR implementation study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesper Kjærgaard ◽  
◽  
Thomas Nørrelykke Nissen ◽  
Elvira Isaeva ◽  
Nguyen Nhat Quynh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Clinical Performance ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Primary Care Health ◽  
Care Health ◽  
Asthma In Children

Abstract Background Training is a common and cost-effective way of trying to improve quality of care in low- and middle-income countries but studies of contextual factors for the successful translation of increased knowledge into clinical change are lacking, especially in primary care. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of contextual factors on the effect of training rural healthcare workers in Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam on their knowledge and clinical performance in managing pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms. Methods Primary care health workers in Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam underwent a one-day training session on asthma in children under five. The effect of training was measured on knowledge and clinical performance using a validated questionnaire, and by direct clinical observations. Results Eighty-one healthcare workers participated in the training. Their knowledge increased by 1.1 Cohen’s d (CI: 0.7 to 1.4) in Kyrgyzstan where baseline performance was lower and 1.5 Cohen’s d (CI: 0.5 to 2.5) in Vietnam. Consultations were performed by different types of health care workers in Kyrgyzstan and there was a 79.1% (CI 73.9 to 84.3%) increase in consultations where at least one core symptom of respiratory illness was asked. Only medical doctors participated in Vietnam, where the increase was 25.0% (CI 15.1 to 34.9%). Clinical examination improved significantly after training in Kyrgyzstan. In Vietnam, the number of actions performed generally declined. The most pronounced difference in contextual factors was consultation time, which was median 15 min in Kyrgyzstan and 2 min in Vietnam. Discussion and conclusion The effects on knowledge of training primary care health workers in lower middle-income countries in diagnosis and management of asthma in children under five only translated into changes in clinical performance where consultation time allowed for changes to clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of considering contextual factors in order to succeed in behavioral change after training.

scholarly journals Primary healthcare system performance in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review of the evidence from 2010 to 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 8) ◽  
pp. e001551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asaf Bitton ◽  
Jocelyn Fifield ◽  
Hannah Ratcliffe ◽  
Ami Karlage ◽  
Hong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Topic Area ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Middle Income Countries

IntroductionThe 2018 Astana Declaration reaffirmed global commitment to primary healthcare (PHC) as a core strategy to achieve universal health coverage. To meet this potential, PHC in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) needs to be strengthened, but research is lacking and fragmented. We conducted a scoping review of the recent literature to assess the state of research on PHC in LMIC and understand where future research is most needed.MethodsGuided by the Primary Healthcare Performance Initiative (PHCPI) conceptual framework, we conducted searches of the peer-reviewed literature on PHC in LMIC published between 2010 (the publication year of the last major review of PHC in LMIC) and 2017. We also conducted country-specific searches to understand performance trajectories in 14 high-performing countries identified in the previous review. Evidence highlights and gaps for each topic area of the PHCPI framework were extracted and summarised.ResultsWe retrieved 5219 articles, 207 of which met final inclusion criteria. Many PHC system inputs such as payment and workforce are well-studied. A number of emerging service delivery innovations have early evidence of success but lack evidence for how to scale more broadly. Community-based PHC systems with supportive governmental policies and financing structures (public and private) consistently promote better outcomes and equity. Among the 14 highlighted countries, most maintained or improved progress in the scope of services, quality, access and financial coverage of PHC during the review time period.ConclusionOur findings revealed a heterogeneous focus of recent literature, with ample evidence for effective PHC policies, payment and other system inputs. More variability was seen in key areas of service delivery, underscoring a need for greater emphasis on implementation science and intervention testing. Future evaluations are needed on PHC system capacities and orientation toward social accountability, innovation, management and population health in order to achieve the promise of PHC.

scholarly journals Evidence gap map of performance measurement and management in primary healthcare systems in low-income and middle-income countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 8) ◽  
pp. e001451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Munar ◽  
Birte Snilstveit ◽  
Ligia Esther Aranda ◽  
Nilakshi Biswas ◽  
Theresa Baffour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Unintended Effects ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

IntroductionWe mapped available evidence on performance measurement and management (PMM) strategies in primary healthcare (PHC) systems of low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Widely used, their effectiveness remains inconclusive. This evidence gap map characterises existing research and evidence gaps.MethodsSystematic mapping of performance measurement and management research in LMICs from 2000 to mid-2018; literature searches of seven academic databases and institutional repositories of impact evaluations and systematic reviews. Using a combination of manual screening and machine learning, four reviewers appraised 38 088 titles and abstracts, and extracted metadata from 137 impact evaluations and 18 systematic reviews that met the inclusion criteria. The resulting visual representation of the evidence base was uploaded to a web-based platform.ResultsSince 2000, the number of studies has increased; the first systematic reviews were completed in 2010. Two-thirds of the studies were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Randomised controlled trials were the most frequently used study design. The evidence is concentrated in two types of PMM strategies: implementation strategies (in-service training, continuing education, supervision) and performance-based financing. Major gaps exist in accountability arrangements particularly the use of audit and feedback. The least studied types of outcomes were unintended effects, harm and social equity.ConclusionsThe evidence is clustered around interventions that are unlikely to achieve transformational change in health outcomes. The gaps identified suggest that routinely used PMM strategies are implemented without sufficient knowledge of their effects. Future efforts at redesigning PHC systems need to be informed by evidence on the most effective approaches for using PMM strategies.

scholarly journals Prevalence of frailty and prefrailty among community-dwelling older adults in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e018195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhammika D Siriwardhana ◽  
Sarah Hardoon ◽  
Greta Rait ◽  
Manuj C Weerasinghe ◽  
Kate R Walters
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Pooled Prevalence ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectiveTo systematically review the research conducted on prevalence of frailty and prefrailty among community-dwelling older adults in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and to estimate the pooled prevalence of frailty and prefrailty in community-dwelling older adults in LMICs.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis. PROSPERO registration number is CRD42016036083.Data sourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, Web of Science, CINAHL and WHO Global Health Library were searched from their inception to 12 September 2017.SettingLow-income and middle-income countries.ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years.ResultsWe screened 7057 citations and 56 studies were included. Forty-seven and 42 studies were included in the frailty and prefrailty meta-analysis, respectively. The majority of studies were from upper middle-income countries. One study was available from low-income countries. The prevalence of frailty varied from 3.9% (China) to 51.4% (Cuba) and prevalence of prefrailty ranged from 13.4% (Tanzania) to 71.6% (Brazil). The pooled prevalence of frailty was 17.4% (95% CI 14.4% to 20.7%, I2=99.2%) and prefrailty was 49.3% (95% CI 46.4% to 52.2%, I2=97.5%). The wide variation in prevalence rates across studies was largely explained by differences in frailty assessment method and the geographic region. These findings are for the studies with a minimum recruitment age 60, 65 and 70 years.ConclusionThe prevalence of frailty and prefrailty appears higher in community-dwelling older adults in upper middle-income countries compared with high-income countries, which has important implications for healthcare planning. There is limited evidence on frailty prevalence in lower middle-income and low-income countries.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42016036083.

scholarly journals Do combination HIV prevention programmes result in increased empowerment, inclusion and agency to demand equal rights for marginalised populations in low-income and middle-income countries? A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. e001560
Author(s):  
Carinne Brody ◽  
Say Sok ◽  
Sovannary Tuot ◽  
Marija Pantelic ◽  
Enrique Restoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Combination Prevention ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Prevention Programmes

IntroductionThis systematic review aims to determine if combination HIV prevention programmes include outcome measures for empowerment, inclusion and agency to demand equal rights and measure the relationship between empowerment and HIV prevention outcomes.MethodsAn electronic literature search of PubMed, POPLINE, Index Medicus and Google Scholar was conducted between August and October 2018. We included studies that evaluated combination prevention programmes that had all three types of intervention components and that specifically serve members of populations disproportionately affected by HIV published from 2008 to 2018. The selected studies were screened for inclusion, and relevant data abstracted, assessed for bias and synthesised.ResultsThis review included a total of 15 studies. Findings indicate that combination HIV prevention programmes for marginalised populations have delivered a variety of theory-based behavioural and structural interventions that support improvements in empowerment, inclusion and agency. However, empowerment, inclusion and least of all agency are not measured consistently or in a standardised way. In addition, analysis of their relationships with HIV prevention outcomes is rare. Out of our 15 included studies, only two measured a relationship between an empowerment, inclusion or agency outcome and an HIV prevention outcome.ConclusionThese findings suggest that policy-makers, programme planners and researchers might need to consider the intermediate steps on the pathway to increased condom use and HIV testing so as to explain the ‘how’ of their achievements and inform future investments in HIV prevention. This will support replication and expansion of programmes and ensure sustainability of the programmes.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018106909

scholarly journals Primary healthcare policy and governance in low-income and middle-income countries: an evidence gap map

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 8) ◽  
pp. e001453 ◽  
Author(s):  
K M Saif-Ur-Rahman ◽  
Razib Mamun ◽  
Iffat Nowrin ◽  
Shahed Hossain ◽  
Khaleda Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Provider Communication ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Stakeholder Consultation ◽  
Middle Income Countries

IntroductionGovernance is one of the most important aspects for strong primary healthcare (PHC) service delivery. To achieve the targets for the Sustainable Development Goals, good governance may play a prime role in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This evidence gap map (EGM) explored the available evidence in LMICs to identify the knowledge gap concerning PHC policy and governance in these settings.MethodsWe followed the standard 3ie EGM protocol, finalising the scope of the EGM through a stakeholder workshop. We searched a total of 32 bibliographic databases, systematic review databases, impact evaluation databases, and donor and bilateral agency databases using a comprehensive search strategy. Two reviewers screened retrieved studies, extracted data and performed quality assessment. We plotted the interventions and outcomes derived from the included studies in a dynamic platform to build the interactive EGM and conducted a stakeholder consultation with nominal group technique methods to prioritise the identified gaps.ResultsThe EGM included 24 systematic reviews and 7 impact evaluations focusing on PHC policy and governance in LMICs. Most of the sources emphasised workforce management and supervision. There were noticeable evidence gaps regarding accountability and social responsibility. The most highly prioritised themes were the role of accountability, the role of public–private partnerships and the role of user–provider communication in PHC governance.ConclusionsThis EGM identified some important aspects of PHC policy and governance such as accountability, social responsibility, public–private partnership, user–provider communication through the methodological approaches of evidence synthesis and stakeholder consultation. Identified gaps will provide directions for an implementation research plan to improve the governance of PHC in LMICs.

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