scholarly journals Patient and health care system characteristics are associated with delayed treatment of tuberculosis cases in Taiwan

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Chou Chen ◽  
Po-Huang Chiang ◽  
Yen-Hsu Chen ◽  
I-Chun Fan ◽  
Ta-Chien Chan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Initial Visit ◽  
System Delay ◽  
Tuberculosis Patients ◽  
Health System Delay ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Care System

Abstract Background The decline of the incidence rate of tuberculosis in Taiwan has been partly attributed to the launch of the directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) program in 2006, followed by the DOTS-Plus in 2007. However, with the phasing out of the specialized tuberculosis care system and the declining incidence, clinical workers in Taiwan might become less familiar with the presentation of tuberculosis. Complementing the patient-pathway analysis with health system delay estimates, the objective of this study is twofold: to estimate the alignment between patient care initiation and the availability of prompt diagnostic and treatment services, and to identify the risk factors of delayed tuberculosis treatment. Methods The study population included all Taiwanese patients with incident tuberculosis in 2013. We (1) identified 11,507 incident tuberculosis patients from the 2013 National TB Registry, and (2) linked 10,932 Taiwanese from the registry to the 2012–2013 National Health Insurance Research Database. We assessed patient’s care-seeking pathways and associated the determinants of health system delay in a Cox model. Results The overall health system delay was 46 days. We found that 20.5 and 3.5% of 10,932 tuberculosis patients were diagnosed and treated respectively at the initial visit to seek care for TB-related symptoms. Risk factors related to the prolonged health system delay included female gender (adjusted HR = 0.921, 95% CI: 0.884, 0.960), age > =65 years (adjusted HR = 0.720, 95% CI: 0.692, 0.750), non-severe (chest X-ray without cavities) (adjusted HR =0.721, 95% CI 0.683–0.760), chronic respiratory diseases (adjusted HR = 0.544, 95% CI: 0.522, 0.566), living in long-term care facilities (adjusted HR = 0.580, 95% CI: 0.525,0.640), an initial visit at a primary care clinic (adjusted HR = 0.588, 95% CI: 0.565, 0.612), and living in southern Taiwan (adjusted HR = 0.887, 95% CI: 0.798, 0.987). Conclusions The low access to TB diagnostic and treatment services at the initial visit and the prolonged health system delay indicate inefficiency in the health care system. Strengthening training of physicians at public hospitals and health workers at nursing homes might improve the efficiency and timeliness of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in Taiwan.

scholarly journals Searching for Elysium: teaching universal health care as a human right

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Souza ◽  
T C Garcia ◽  
M N Sayão
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Human Right ◽  
School Class ◽  
Federal Constitution ◽  
High School Class ◽  
Free Health Care ◽  
Care System

Abstract Background Brazil have a huge free health care system. Inspired on UK National Health System (NHS), the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS, that means Unified Health System) was consolidate as a right for all citizens after 1988's Brazilian Federal Constitution. Despite your spread, part of Brazilian citizens have an opposite opinions about SUS. So, the main question is: How to teach the relevance of a universal free health care system as a human right. Objectives The main aim of this work is teaching the recognize of SUS as a human right and ratified by Brazilian Federal Constitution in a High School class. In this sense, we used the cinema and debate for stimulate an effective comprehension of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and health promotion as a human right in a high school class. We used the movie Elysium (Neill Blomkamp, 2013) that show a dystopian world with two social class: citizen and non-citizen of Elysium (an artificial satellite of the Earth with high technology of cure for your citizens). Results The class has three Lessons: in first lesson we teaching about different notions about rights and the UDHR. In the second lesson we teaching about free health care systems in the world and a historical perspective about SUS. The third lesson we show the movie Elysium and proceed a debate. In debate we discuss about citizenship and rights, how the movie show two societies with different rights about work, transport and health, and how this aspects impact the quality of life of human being. Conclusions What options we have? The notion of free health care as a human right isn't an easy concept. So, efforts are needed for this comprehension and cinema can be used, followed by discussion, as a significant teaching tool for achieving humanistic educational objectives about free health care system as a human right in the high school curriculum. Key messages Health care is a human right and free health care system is a concretization of this right. Cinema can be used for stimulate a critical evaluation and effective understanding of rights in a high school classroom.

Public-private: unequal competition Israeli public hospitals vs the private health-care system following government reforms

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lior Naamati Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Creative Solutions ◽  
Government Reforms ◽  
Care System

Purpose This study aims to map perceptions and changes in public hospitals in response to competition with the private health system, describes solutions adopted by the public hospitals and considers their implications for the business and strategic management of those hospitals. Design/methodology/approach This paper opted for a qualitative study using the open-ended approach of grounded theory, including 40 in-depth interviews with key figures in the health system and administrators at various levels of management. Findings Public hospitals are constantly adopting changes because of state-mandated reforms and growing competition with private hospitals. Notable measures include making hospitals customer-oriented and adopting business-oriented behaviors and competitive and marketing strategies. However, because public hospitals are unable to institute radical changes, they typically introduce hybrid services (private services within public services) and other creative solutions such as business-funded research foundations operating alongside them. Research limitations/implications The main methodological limitation of this study was the difficulty in obtaining data because of the limited cooperation and lack of transparency of Israel’s health-care system. The interviewees expressed concerns that their department or hospital would appear in a negative light, especially as motivated solely by financial considerations. In anticipation of this difficulty, requests for participation were addressed individually and contained extensive detail regarding the study, the ethics committee’s approval, the data gathering and the strict maintenance of anonymity and confidentiality. Originality/value Adopting business-oriented behaviors in public hospitals is somewhat contrary to the principles of public medicine. Their adaptation to the market is partial, and their creative hybrid solutions require state regulation. The absence of controls leads to duplication and waste, causing various problems, including increased social inequality, costs and deficits.

Cost-effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: health care system and societal perspectives

SLEEP ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared Streatfeild ◽  
David Hillman ◽  
Robert Adams ◽  
Scott Mitchell ◽  
Lynne Pezzullo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Airway Pressure ◽  
Positive Airway Pressure ◽  
Cpap Therapy ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Care System

Abstract Study Objectives To determine cost-effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Australia for 2017–2018 to facilitate public health decision-making. Methods Analysis was undertaken of direct per-person costs of CPAP therapy (according to 5-year care pathways), health system and other costs of OSA and its comorbidities averted by CPAP treatment (5-year adherence rate 56.7%) and incremental benefit of therapy (in terms of disability-adjusted life years [DALYs] averted) to determine cost-effectiveness of CPAP. This was expressed as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (= dollars per DALY averted). Direct costs of CPAP were estimated from government reimbursements for services and advertised equipment costs. Costs averted were calculated from both the health care system perspective (health system costs only) and societal perspective (health system plus other financial costs including informal care, productivity losses, nonmedical accident costs, deadweight taxation and welfare losses). These estimates of costs (expressed in US dollars) and DALYs averted were based on our recent analyses of costs of untreated OSA. Results From the health care system perspective, estimated cost of CPAP therapy to treat OSA was $12 495 per DALY averted while from a societal perspective the effect was dominant (−$10 688 per DALY averted) meaning it costs more not to treat the problem than to treat it. Conclusions These estimates suggest substantial community investment in measures to more systematically identify and treat OSA is justified. Apart from potential health and well-being benefits, it is financially prudent to do so.

Risk factors for drug dependence among out-patients on opioid therapy in a large US health-care system

Addiction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 105 (10) ◽  
pp. 1776-1782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Boscarino ◽  
Margaret Rukstalis ◽  
Stuart N. Hoffman ◽  
John J. Han ◽  
Porat M. Erlich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Drug Dependence ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Care System

scholarly journals Development of a gender-relevant tobacco cessation intervention for women in Brazil—an intervention mapping approach to planning

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 505-520
Author(s):  
N�dia Kienen ◽  
Tha�s Dist�fano Wiltenburg ◽  
Lorna Bittencourt ◽  
Isabel C Scarinci
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Tobacco Cessation ◽  
Public Health System ◽  
Intervention Mapping ◽  
The Public ◽  
Cessation Intervention ◽  
Care System

Abstract The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a theory-based, culturally and gender-relevant Community Health Worker (CWH)-led tobacco cessation intervention for low-income Brazilian women who augments the tobacco cessation program offered through the public health system using Intervention Mapping (IM). We began with the establishment of a network of representatives from different segments of society followed by comprehensive needs assessments. We then established a logical planning process that was guided by a theoretical framework (Social Cognitive Theory) and existing evidence-based tobacco cessation programs, taking into account socio-political context of a universal health care system. Given the gender-relevance of our intervention and the importance of social support in tobacco cessation among women, we chose an intervention that would be delivered within the public health system but augmented by CHWs that would be trained in behavior change by researchers. One of major advantages of utilizing IM was that decisions were made in a transparent and supportive manner with involvement of all stakeholders throughout the process. Despite the fact that this process is very taxing on researchers and the health care system as it takes time, resources and negotiation skills, it builds trust and promotes ownership which can assure sustainability.

Health Care System Structure in the State of Israel

2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
Mohammad Yasser Sabbah
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
The State ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Right ◽  
To Receive ◽  
State Of Israel ◽  
Care System

The health care system in the State of Israel consists of two sectors - the public sector, which includes government-owned hospitals and medical institutes. The public health sector includes the community health system, health funds, family medicine, the general care system and the mental health care system. The second sector is the private sector, which includes private hospitals and medical institutes. Both sectors are supervised by the Israeli Ministry of Health, which is the supreme governmental authority through which it implements its policy in the entire health system in Israel. The law provides and guarantees medical insurance for every resident of Israel, the right to receive medical treatment, the prohibition of discrimination, informed consent to medical treatment, the right to receive an additional medical opinion, the dignity and privacy of the patient and the right to attend. Health funds in Israel were established before the State of Israel was established. The ideological concept of the health funds was based on the principle of equality and mutual assistance.

scholarly journals Early mortality after neonatal surgery: analysis of risk factors in an optimized health care system for the surgical newborn

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 943-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dora Catré ◽  
Maria Francelina Lopes ◽  
Angel Madrigal ◽  
Bárbara Oliveiros ◽  
Joaquim Silva Viana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Early Mortality ◽  
Neonatal Surgery ◽  
Care System
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