scholarly journals A warning about measurement and methodological issues associated with coronavirus tracking and evaluation across jurisdictions

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (78) ◽  
pp. 297-299
Author(s):  
Robert Ladouceur ◽  
Howard Shaffer ◽  
Paige Shaffer ◽  
Lucie Baillargeon

As people around the world experience a devastating pandemic, it is critical that policy-makers consider the methodological and measurement issues that might be associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health indicators. This commentary uses four primary variables to illustrate measurement and methodological issues that can complicate comparisons between jurisdictions. Jurisdiction refers to a variety of geographic areas, such as a country, a state, or a province/territory. These variables play a critical role in determining how we understand the trajectory of disease spread. These variables also contribute to our understanding of prevention strategies and their associated efficacy, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on hospitals. It is critical for public health stakeholders and the public to recognize that these four simple variables can vary substantially across jurisdictions.

2016 ◽  
pp. 245-255
Author(s):  
Massoud Samiei

Despite all the progress made in cancer research and in the fight against cancer, the disease cannot be completely eradicated in the foreseeable future. A logical public health measure must therefore focus all efforts on preventing and confining the disease, i.e. a systematic and coordinated approach to reduce the impact of cancer on populations. Such an organised approach is called cancer control. It forms part of a holistic and coordinated approach, called a national cancer control plan/ programme (NCCP), involving the public sector, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector. Policy makers and cancer advocacy groups should consider cancer control planning, and its financing and implementation, a public health necessity and not an option. The model proposed here is a hybrid one. The success of cancer control planning depends greatly on the availability and functionality of local cancer data and knowledge, in addition to adequate resources and government commitment.


Author(s):  
Viju Raghupathi ◽  
Wullianallur Raghupathi

The authors use a health analytics approach to investigate the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and public health at a country level. The research uses the ICT factors of accessibility, usage, quality, affordability, trade, and applications, as well as the public delivery indicators of adolescent fertility rate, child immunization for DPT, child immunization for measles, tuberculosis detection rate, life expectancy, adult female mortality rate, and adult male mortality rate. ICT data was collected from the International Telecommunication Union ICT Indicator database. The public health data was collected from the World Bank website. Results of the analytics indicate that ICT factors are positively associated with some public health indicators. Nearly all of the ICT factors are positively associated with the public health indicators of immunization rates, TB detection rates, and life expectancy. The association with adult mortality is negative, which is also favorable. However, the association of ICT with fertility rate is negative, which is an unfavorable effect. These results offer insight into the importance of understanding the positive and adverse impacts of ICT on public health so as to guide national policy decisions in the future.


2019 ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
E. A. Galova

Purpose of the study: to reveal characteristics of chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV) incidence in babies and preschoolers, schoolchildren, teenagers on the example of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Materials and methods. The article presents official epidemiological information on the incidence of HCV in children in the Nizhny Novgorod region in 1995–2015. Data statistical processing was performed with Statistica 7.0. soft ware package. Zero hypotheses were rejected at significance level of the corresponding statistical criterion p < 0,05. Results. The study revealed differences of HCV-epidemic process in infants and preschoolers, schoolchildren and teenagers. The incidence of HCV in children 0–6 years old and 15–17 years old is characterized by a lack of reduction and an uncertain prognosis (p < 0,05); the positive prognosis is possible in schoolchildren aged 7–14 years (p < 0,05). There was an increase of patients of younger age groups in the proportion, and decrease of cases frequency in children 7–14-year-olds. The authors identified that the viral hepatitis C incidence is correlate with the public health indicators and with the health care institutions activities; the correlations strength and correlations pattern is depend on age. The article presents a quantitative assessment of the relationship between the children HCV incidence in different age periods and the public health indicators and activities health institutions. Conclusions. In HCV-epidemic process in children at the present there is a redistribution of older and younger age groups role in its maintenance with the leading significance of the latter. Obtained results prove the significant contribution of HCV positive women of fertile age in the HCV- epidemic process in children at the present stage.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giles David Calder-Gerver ◽  
Stella Mazeri ◽  
Samuel Haynes ◽  
Camille Anna Simonet ◽  
Mark EJ Woolhouse ◽  
...  

To manage the public health risk posed by COVID-19 and assess the impact of interventions, policy makers must be able to closely monitor the epidemic′s trajectory. Here we present a simple methodology based on basic surveillance metrics for monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and its burden on health services in Scotland. We illustrate how this has been used throughout the epidemic in Scotland and explore the underlying biases that have affected its interpretation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Mayer ◽  
Robert Kenter ◽  
John C. Morris

States’ policy decisions regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 have often been explained as predominantly, if not solely, partisan. Might rival explanations also apply? Using a cross-sectional 50-state regression model, we studied standard political variables coupled with public-health indicators. This work differs from existing research by employing a dependent variable of five additive measures of ACA support, examining the impact of both political and socioeconomic indicators on state policy decisions. Expanding on recent empirical studies with our more nuanced additive index of support measures, we found that same-party control of a state’s executive and legislative branches was indeed by far the single best predictor of policy decisions. Public-health indicators, overwhelmed by partisan effect, did not sufficiently explain state policy choice. This result does not allay the concerns that health policy has become synonymous with health politics and that health politics now has little to do with health itself.


2001 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B Gerzoff ◽  
G.David Williamson

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tri Bayu Purnama ◽  
Syafran Arrazy ◽  
Grace Wangge

Abstract Objectives : The multisectoral problem of stunting with sensitive interventions is still a public health problem. This problem is due to complex factors that affect stunting programs across sectors to accelerate the stunting program for non-nutrition programs. This study aims to identify challenges in implementing sensitive interventions on stunting from regulation to implementation of activities. Methods : A qualitative multilevel approach was used for this research by conducting in-depth interviews, observation, and document review on the supply and demand aspects of the stunting-sensitive intervention program. The District of Health as the first level in the regulator, the Public health center as the implementer of the activity, and the community as the target of the activity were interviewed about the impact of regional regulatory innovations on stunting prevalence. Results This study explains that the families of stunting infants are not familiar with sensitive intervention activities and are still focused on specific packages. Coordination and collaboration, both intern level and between levels, have not been maximally implemented. The development of innovations in regional regulations has no impact on public health indicators both before and after the design is implemented. Conclusion for practices This research concludes that deploying cadres, transforming regulation inovation to social inovation and program managers trainning are crucial to accelerate sensitive intervention program.


2012 ◽  
pp. 22-46
Author(s):  
Huong Nguyen Thi Lan ◽  
Toan Pham Ngoc

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of public expenditure cuts on employment and income to support policies for the development of the labor mar- ket. Impact evaluation is of interest for policy makers as well as researchers. This paper presents a method – that is based on a Computable General Equilibrium model – to analyse the impact of the public expenditure cuts policy on employment and income in industries and occupations in Vietnam using macro data, the Input output table, 2006, 2008 and the 2010 Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 698-720
Author(s):  
E.V. Lobkova ◽  
A.S. Petrichenko

Subject. This article studies the mechanism of State health regulation and methods of management of efficiency of regional healthcare institutions. Objectives. The article aims to analyze the territorial health system in the context of the urgent need to optimize budget expenditures and address public health problems, as well as develop directions to improve the effectiveness of the regional health system of the Krasnoyarsk Krai. Methods. For the study, we used the method of index numbers and calculation of dynamics indicators using official statistics data. Results. We have developed and now present a system of indicators of regional health efficiency assessment, focused mainly on public health indicators and quality of medical services. We also offer our own version of the Luenberger observer modification adapted to the objectives of the regional health system analysis. Conclusions and Relevance. The article concludes that it is necessary to optimize the regional health system using the parameters of medical and social efficiency of the system. The proposed approach to assessing the effectiveness of regional health system can be used as a mechanism to develop recommendations for the management of the network of medical and prophylactic institutions of the region.


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