scholarly journals Health service use and costs among migrants in an irregular situation: cross-sectional register-based study from a voluntary-based clinic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Tjukanov ◽  
Paula Tiittala ◽  
Heli Salmi

Abstract AimThe increase in immigration to Europe has led to an increasing demand for information about healthcare needs and costs of vulnerable migrant populations, but few data based on actual demand for healthcare services and related costs exist.MethodsIn this single-centre retrospective register study, we examined the reasons for encounter and diagnoses, service use and costs of healthcare among patients at a voluntary clinic for migrants in an irregular situation in Helsinki, Finland in 2016. ICPC-2 classification and unit costs for primary healthcare in Finland were used as a basis for the cost estimation.Results546 patient visits accounted for 620 ICPC-2 coded reasons for encounter, diagnoses and process codes. The most common health problems were teeth/gum disease (10%), acute upper respiratory infection (5%) and oesophageal disease (3%). Visits seldom led to complementary investigations (2%), follow-up visit to the clinic (5%) or referral to public healthcare (11%). The total cost of treatment, excluding dental health costs, was 39 547 euros, or 71 euros per visit. ConclusionsMigrants in an irregular situation present with a variety of health concerns, the majority of which can be treated in a basic primary healthcare facility. The cost of healthcare was relatively low, as most of the complaints could be treated with simple means. More research is needed to understand the health and cost benefits of extending public healthcare services for migrants in an irregular situation beyond emergency care.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Christopher Hokororo ◽  
Eliudi S. Eliakimu ◽  
Ruth Ngowi ◽  
Mohammed A. Mohammed ◽  
Hamisi M. Malebo ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Dar es Salaam is the region with a large number of Primary healthcare facilities (dispensaries and health centres) outnumber the available hospitals. Although policies on referral system are available, there is a gap in terms of compliance and adherence to the governance system. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients as compared to primary healthcare facilities, leading to poor quality of the healthcare services. The aim was to assess the needs of community members for primary healthcare services, as well as, to identify the reasons and determinants that influence mothers to bypass primary healthcare facilities.Methodology A cross-sectional study that assessed the determinants associated with pregnant mothers to bypass primary healthcare facilities in their healthcare needs. The study was conducted in Kinondoni, Ilala, Kigamboni, Temeke and Ubungo healthcare facilities in Dar es Salaam region. It targeted all postnatal women. A consecutive sampling procedure was used and a total of 544 of respondents were involved in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on: social demographic; Clinical factors of the mother; Health services; and provider’s factors that might contribute to the observed bypass. Data were analysed in levels of univariate, bivariate and multivariate using SPSS statistical package number 20.Results A total of 544 respondents were interviewed. Mothers who bypassed the primary healthcare facilities were 94%. After adjustment it was found that, those with income more than 1USD a day were (OR=4.27, CI=1.8- 15.4, P=0.01) more likely to bypass the primary facilities and go straight to the upper levels of healthcare facilities.Conclusions This study has found postnatal women in Dar es Salaam region are at high chance of going straight to the secondary and tertiary Hospitals without passing at primary healthcare facilities. Nine in every ten postnatal women were found to have by passed the primary healthcare facilities. Findings from this study reveals a strong and urgent need to strengthen primary healthcare facilities and as well implement the referral guidelines on all clients who seek health care to reduce the bypass.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khanyisa N. Mrwetyana ◽  
Jacques Janse van Rensburg ◽  
Gina Joubert

Background: South Africa has high healthcare expenses. Improving cost-consciousness could decrease government expenditure on healthcare.Objectives: To determine cost awareness of radiological studies among doctors at a tertiary hospital. The objective was met by assessing the accuracy of cost estimation according to the level of training and speciality, whether participants had received prior education/training related to cost awareness and if they had a desire to learn more about the cost of radiological imaging.Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in six clinical departments at Universitas Academic Hospital using an anonymous questionnaire that determined doctors’ cost awareness of five radiological studies. Each radiological study was answered using six different cost ranges, with one correct option. Costs were based on the Department of Health’s 2019 Uniform Patients Fee Schedule (UPFS).Results: In total, 131 (67.2%) of 195 questionnaires distributed to registrars and consultants were returned. Overall, low accuracy of cost estimation was observed, with 45.2% of the participants choosing only incorrect options. No participant estimated all five costs correctly. Only the Internal Medicine clinicians demonstrated a significant difference between registrars and consultants for the number of correct answers (median 0 and 1, respectively) (p = 0.04). No significant differences were found between specialities stratified by registrars/consultants. Most participants (88.6%) would like to learn about imaging costs. Only 2.3% of the participants had received prior education/training related to cost awareness of radiological studies.Conclusion: Doctors were consistently inaccurate in estimating the cost of radiological studies. Educating doctors about the cost of radiological imaging could have a positive effect on healthcare expenditure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
Daria Przybylska ◽  
Piotr Przybylski ◽  
Bartłomiej Drop ◽  
Krzysztof Czarnocki ◽  
Wojciech Przybylski ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction. Family medicine remains the primary type of medical services in Poland and it is supposed to treat both individual patients and the society as a whole. Due to the growing commercialization of the health service, most primary healthcare centers have transformed into non-public healthcare facilities. The public ones (called SPZOZ in Polish) account only for a small fraction of the whole number of primary healthcare facilities. The quality of medical services provided by such facilities, as patients see it, remains one of the key elements determining the development of family medicine centers. Aim. The aim of this paper was to assess patient satisfaction levels regarding the healthcare services they received in two primary healthcare institutions, both of the NZOZ and SPZOZ type, in a small town located close to Lublin. Material and methods. An anonymous survey was filled out by 30 patients of both a public and non-public healthcare center located in Niemce (Niemce Commune, Lublin District). The quality of services was assessed using an original questionnaire in the form of a poll. Results. The results obtained indicate a clear relationship between one’s trust to the physician, diagnosis accuracy and visiting the particular center again, in order to continue the treatment. For older subjects, it was nurses’ kindness and politeness that was the most important. The elderly appreciated the kindness and politeness of the nurses in particular. No significant differences were found between the institutions in respect of the overall perception of satisfaction with services. In terms of infrastructure assessment, the majority of positive feedback was provided for NZOZ. Conclusions. The findings above suggest that it is essential to conduct surveys on a regular basis, in order to check patients’ assessment of the service quality in various institutons.


Author(s):  
A. I. Syngelakis ◽  
Maria Kamariotou ◽  
Fotis C. Kitsios ◽  
Chrystala Charalambous ◽  
Argy Polychronopoulou

In dental care services, quality is an important factor that affects decision making, the planning of health strategies and policies, the cost of health services, and the evaluation of them. The evaluation of quality in dental services using the assessment methods that are used in other services of primary healthcare is difficult due to the special characteristics of dentistry. However, the improvement and the evaluation of primary oral healthcare services is a complicated issue because it involves many factors that affect it. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to provide a complete overview of the literature using Webster and Watson's methodology. Fifty peer-reviewed papers were analyzed and the results of this review revealed that the number of publications in this domain has increased in the last decade, and there is a need to foster research (especially empirical) in this field.


Author(s):  
Ju Young Kim ◽  
Dae In Kim ◽  
Hwa Yeon Park ◽  
Yuliya Pak ◽  
Phap Ngoc Hoang Tran ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to examine the current utilization of healthcare services, exploring unmet healthcare needs and the associated factors among people living in rural Vietnam. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 233 participants in a rural area. The methods included face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. We considered participants to have unmet health needs if they had any kind of health problem during the past 12 months for which they were unable to see a healthcare provider. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with unmet healthcare needs. Of the participants, 18% (n = 43) had unmet healthcare needs, for reasons like transportation (30%), a lack of available doctors or medicine (47%), and communication issues with healthcare providers (16%). The multivariate logistic regression showed that living in a rural area, having stage 2 hypertension, and having insurance were associated with unmet healthcare needs. To better meet the healthcare needs in rural or suburban areas of Vietnam, allocation of adequate healthcare resources should be distributed in rural areas and insurance coverage for personalized healthcare needs might be required. Efforts should focus on availability of medicine, improvement of transportation systems, and communication skills of healthcare providers to improve access to healthcare services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (02) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Affan K ◽  

Background: Malaria is one of the major health issues in developing and underdeveloped countries. It is considered to be one of the main reasons for morbidity and mortality. This study intends to estimate the cost of illness of malaria at the household level and health service utilisation pattern for malaria treatment in coastal Karnataka. Materials and Methods: It was a secondary data-based cross-sectional study comprising people suffering from malaria during the period from September to December 2016. Result: The median gross total cost of illness (a single episode of malaria) was 4,000 INR, the median direct medical cost was zero, and the median direct non-medical cost was 100 INR. The majority of individuals (92.2%) took treatment from public healthcare sectors. Conclusion: The effective implementation of anti-malarial interventions by the District Health Authority, District Vector Borne Disease Control Office, and treatment from public health sectors resulted in negligible direct medical cost which made a remarkable reduction in the cost of illness of malaria.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-117
Author(s):  
Astuti Yuni Nursasi ◽  
Nadya Tiara Sabila ◽  
Muhamad Jauhar

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem. Families need to meet healthcare needs during the treatment of TB sufferers. This study aims to identify healthcare needs of families caring for patients with the disease. The cross-sectional study involved 83 families caring for TB patients. The research was conducted at a Primary Healthcare Center in an urban area in West Java. The results revealed that 60.2% of caregivers were 18–40 years old, 60.2% were female, 51.8% were senior high school educated, 43.4% were housewives, 86.7% had an income under the regional minimum wage, and 55.4% had cared for the TB patients for 3–6 months. The families had healthcare needs for emotional support (mean 33.72, SD 4.16); information support (mean 33.28, SD 4.09); instrumental support (mean 32.4, SD 3.73); and appraisal support (mean 28.01, SD 5.93). The greatest support need was how to encourage clients to take treatment completely (Score: 140); TB treatment information (Score: 138); financial support for chest x-ray costs (Score: 114); and how to assess patient behavior in maintaining health (score: 133). Based on the study result, the families need to improve their ability to give appraisal support during the patient's treatment. The identification of families’ healthcare needs in caring for patients with pulmonary TB can provide primary data for developing innovative programs integrated with DOTS programs in healthcare services to improve family support.Abstrak Kebutuhan Perawatan Kesehatan Keluarga yang Merawat Pasien Tuberkulosis. Tuberkulosis (TB) merupakan masalah kesehatan masyarakat global. Keluarga harus memenuhi kebutuhan perawatan kesehatan selama pengobatan pada pasien TB. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi kebutuhan perawatan kesehatan pada keluarga yang merawat pasien TB. Penelitian cross-sectional ini melibatkan responden sebanyak 83 keluarga yang merawat pasien TB. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di sebuah Puskesmas di Kota Depok, Jawa Barat. Penelitian ini melaporkan sebanyak 60,2% berusia 18–40 tahun, 60,2% perempuan, 51,8% lulus sekolah menengah atas, 43,4% ibu rumah tangga, 86,7% pendapatan di bawah upah minimum regional, 55,4% merawat pasien TB selama 3–6 bulan. Keluarga memiliki kebutuhan perawatan kesehatan untuk dukungan emosional (rerata 33,72, SD 4,16), dukungan informasi (rerata 33,28, SD 4,09), dukungan instrumental (rerata 32,4, SD3,73), dukungan penghargaan (rerata 28,01, SD 5,93). Kebutuhan tertinggi yaitu bagaimana mendorong pasien melakukan pengobatan secara tuntas (140), informasi pengobatan TB (138), dukungan keuangan untuk biaya pemeriksaan rontgen (114), dan bagaimana mengkaji perilaku pasien dalam mempertahankan kesehatan (133). Keluarga membutuhkan peningkatan kapasitas dalam memberikan dukungan penghargaan selama pengobatan pasien. Kebutuhan akan perawatan kesehatan pada keluarga yang merawat pasien TB dapat dijadikan data dasar dalam mengembangkan program inovatif terintegrasi dengan program DOTS di fasilitas layanan kesehatan dalam meningkatkan dukungan pada pasien TB.  Kata kunci: keperawatan keluarga, sistem dukungan, Tuberkulosis paru


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doori Kim ◽  
Boyoung Jung ◽  
Myoung-Ui Cho ◽  
Seong-Bae Song ◽  
Seol Hee Chung ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study analyzed the demographics of patients with peripheral facial palsy in South Korea and their use of healthcare services. Methods The 2016 Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment National Patient Sample dataset was used; a total of 4790 patients, diagnosed with facial palsy, who had used healthcare services at least once between January 2016 and December 2016 were included, and data on the use of medical services, hospitalizations, sociodemographic factors, treatments, and medications were analyzed. Results Overall, 326 patients per 100,000 individuals used healthcare services at least once because of peripheral facial palsy in 2016, with higher numbers for women and those aged 50–59 years. The percentage of patients who used Korean traditional medicine (KM), Western medicine (WM), and both KM and WM was 54.4, 23.3, and 22.3%, respectively. Users of both WM and KM had higher per capita medical costs, more visits, and longer treatment durations. Physiotherapy was the most frequent WM treatment (44.4%), and “examinations” was the costliest (24.7%) category. “Procedures” was both the most frequent and costliest KM category (99.9 and 57.3%, respectively). “Continuous intravenous injections” (8.6%) and “superficial heat therapy” (8.3%) were the most frequent WM treatments, while acupuncture accounted for 98% of all KM treatments. Conclusions This study analyzed the demographic characteristics and medical service use of patients with peripheral facial palsy in detail. These results can be used as basic information to improve clinical and policy strategies for the management and treatment of peripheral facial palsy.


Author(s):  
Mohamad Fadli K ◽  
Rosliza AM ◽  
Muhamad Hanafiah J ◽  
Sharifah Norkhadijah SI

Introduction: A huge number of Orang Asli population live in isolated area within peninsular Malaysia. Their lack of proper road and remoteness made their access to healthcare services difficult. Batang Padang has the 22800 Orang Asli reside in the district. Primary healthcare services have been provided to this population through static clinic and mobile clinic.Objective: This study was done to determine distance of primary healthcare from Orang Asli village and their correlation with primary healthcare utilization.Methods: A cross sectional study using Geographical Information System was done using spatial data from various sources for mapping and spatial analysis. Network analysis using ArcGIS software was used to determine the distance while Spearman correlation was used to determine association between distance and primary healthcare utilization.Result: Most of Orang Asli villages located not far from main road. Mean distance from Orang Asli village to nearest primary healthcare clinic is 5.87 kilometers. Mean duration taken for Orang Asli to come to the primary healthcare clinic is either 4.71 minutes by land transportation or 70.42 minutes by walking. Orang Asli villages located in the center of the district around Bandar Tapah have short distance to primary healthcare and the distance increase as the villages located away from the center. There is significant correlation between network distance with Orang Asli attendance to clinic (r 0.203) and MMR vaccination (r 0.230). There is also significant correlation between walking duration with Orang Asli attendance to primary healthcare (r 0.178) and MMR vaccination (r 0.227).Conclusion: As the distance and duration increase for Orang Asli to get to primary healthcare, there is increase need of primary healthcare services. Planning of primary healthcare for Orang Asli should consider the distance from these villages to primary healthcare services.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 46


2019 ◽  
Vol 255 ◽  
pp. 04005
Author(s):  
Paul K.Y. Siu ◽  
K.L. Choy ◽  
H.Y. Lam

Due to the advancement of living standard and medical technologies, the life expectancy of people is further extended which brings tremendous impact to the society in the near future. The ageing population not only increases the pressure to public healthcare services, but also brings urgent needs in long term healthcare resources allocation planning in the society. This paper presents an Elderly Behaviour Analytics Model (EBAM) to identify the hospital healthcare service preferences of elderly for the future planning of healthcare industry. By conducting an elderly-targeted survey, the collected data is analysed to understand the factors affecting the decision of elderly to acquire healthcare services in hospitals. The model applies the genetic algorithm-guided clustering-based association rule mining approach for the segmentation of hospital service preferences of the elderly, and, the identification of relationship between personal characteristics within each cluster. This research study contributes to the understanding the actual healthcare needs of elderly which allows the government and healthcare service providers to adjust or modify the elderly policies and service content.


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