scholarly journals Variation Among Hospitals in the Continuity of Care for Older Hospitalized Patients: a Cross-sectional Cohort Study

Author(s):  
James S. Goodwin ◽  
Shuang Li ◽  
Jie Zhou ◽  
Yong-Fang Kuo ◽  
Ann Nattinger

Abstract Background: Little is known about how continuity of care for hospitalized patients varies among hospitals. We describe the number of different general internal medicine physicians seeing hospitalized patients during a medical admission and how that varies by hospital. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of a national 20% sample of Medicare inpatients from 01/01/16 to 12/31/18. In patients with routine medical admissions (length of stay of 3-6 days, no Intensive Care Unit stay, and seen by only one generalist per day), we assessed odds of receiving all generalist care from one generalist. We calculated rates for each hospital, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics in a multi-level logistic regression model. Results: Among routine medical admissions with 3- to 6-day stays, only 43.1% received all their generalist care from the same physician. In those with a 3-day stay, 50.1% had one generalist providing care vs. 30.8% in those with a 6-day stay. In a two-level (admission and hospital) logistic regression model controlling for patient characteristics and length of stay, the odds of seeing just one generalist did not vary greatly by patient characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, comorbidity or reason for admission. There were large variations in continuity of care among different hospitals and geographic areas. In the highest decile of hospitals, the adjusted mean percentage of patients receiving all generalist care from one physician was >84.1%, vs. <24.1% in the lowest decile. This large degree of variation persisted when hospitals were stratified by size, ownership, location or teaching status. Conclusions: Continuity of care provided by generalist physicians to medical inpatients varies widely among hospitals. The impact of this variation on quality of care is unknown.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Goodwin ◽  
Shuang Li ◽  
Jie Zhou ◽  
Yong-Fang Kuo ◽  
Ann Nattinger

Abstract Background Little is known about how continuity of care for hospitalized patients varies among hospitals. We describe the number of different general internal medicine physicians seeing hospitalized patients during a medical admission and how that varies by hospital. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of a national 20% sample of Medicare inpatients from 01/01/16 to 12/31/18. In patients with routine medical admissions (length of stay of 3–6 days, no Intensive Care Unit stay, and seen by only one generalist per day), we assessed odds of receiving all generalist care from one generalist. We calculated rates for each hospital, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics in a multi-level logistic regression model. Results Among routine medical admissions with 3- to 6-day stays, only 43.1% received all their generalist care from the same physician. In those with a 3-day stay, 50.1% had one generalist providing care vs. 30.8% in those with a 6-day stay. In a two-level (admission and hospital) logistic regression model controlling for patient characteristics and length of stay, the odds of seeing just one generalist did not vary greatly by patient characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, comorbidity or reason for admission. There were large variations in continuity of care among different hospitals and geographic areas. In the highest decile of hospitals, the adjusted mean percentage of patients receiving all generalist care from one physician was > 84.1%, vs. < 24.1% in the lowest decile. This large degree of variation persisted when hospitals were stratified by size, ownership, location or teaching status. Conclusions Continuity of care provided by generalist physicians to medical inpatients varies widely among hospitals. The impact of this variation on quality of care is unknown.


2021 ◽  
pp. 027623662110344
Author(s):  
Masanori Yamaguchi ◽  
Yusuke Moriguchi

Although previous studies revealed the characteristics of children with imaginary companions, the characteristics of children alone could not explain why some children create and interact with imaginary companions. The current cross-sectional study examined the impact of the situational factors, decreased opportunities to meet and play with real playmate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on the prevalence of imaginary companions. Five hundred sixty caregivers of children aged 2–9 years (half of them were girls) were asked whether their children currently had imaginary companions (personified objects and invisible friends) before (September 2019) and during the pandemic (April 2020). The logistic regression model showed that only the prevalence of personified objects increased during the pandemic, OR = 2.01, 95%CI [1.34, 3.00], even when potential variables were controlled. The results suggest that children more frequently played with their personified objects during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Matos ◽  
C Matias Dias ◽  
A Félix

Abstract Background Studies on the impact of patients with multimorbidity in the absence of work indicate that the number and type of chronic diseases may increase absenteeism and that the risk of absence from work is higher in people with two or more chronic diseases. This study analyzed the association between multimorbidity and greater frequency and duration of work absence in the portuguese population between the ages of 25 and 65 during 2015. Methods This is an epidemiological, observational, cross-sectional study with an analytical component that has its source of information from the 1st National Health Examination Survey. The study analyzed univariate, bivariate and multivariate variables under study. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed. Results The prevalence of absenteeism was 55,1%. Education showed an association with absence of work (p = 0,0157), as well as professional activity (p = 0,0086). It wasn't possible to verify association between the presence of chronic diseases (p = 0,9358) or the presence of multimorbidity (p = 0,4309) with absence of work. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 31,8%. There was association between age (p &lt; 0,0001), education (p &lt; 0,001) and yield (p = 0,0009) and multimorbidity. There is no increase in the number of days of absence from work due to the increase in the number of chronic diseases. In the optimized logistic regression model the only variables that demonstrated association with the variable labor absence were age (p = 0,0391) and education (0,0089). Conclusions The scientific evidence generated will contribute to the current discussion on the need for the health and social security system to develop policies to patients with multimorbidity. Key messages The prevalence of absenteeism and multimorbidity in Portugal was respectively 55,1% and 31,8%. In the optimized model age and education demonstrated association with the variable labor absence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anping Guo ◽  
Jin Lu ◽  
Haizhu Tan ◽  
Zejian Kuang ◽  
Ying Luo ◽  
...  

AbstractTreating patients with COVID-19 is expensive, thus it is essential to identify factors on admission associated with hospital length of stay (LOS) and provide a risk assessment for clinical treatment. To address this, we conduct a retrospective study, which involved patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection in Hefei, China and being discharged between January 20 2020 and March 16 2020. Demographic information, clinical treatment, and laboratory data for the participants were extracted from medical records. A prolonged LOS was defined as equal to or greater than the median length of hospitable stay. The median LOS for the 75 patients was 17 days (IQR 13–22). We used univariable and multivariable logistic regressions to explore the risk factors associated with a prolonged hospital LOS. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. The median age of the 75 patients was 47 years. Approximately 75% of the patients had mild or general disease. The univariate logistic regression model showed that female sex and having a fever on admission were significantly associated with longer duration of hospitalization. The multivariate logistic regression model enhances these associations. Odds of a prolonged LOS were associated with male sex (aOR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.63, p = 0.01), having fever on admission (aOR 8.27, 95% CI 1.47–72.16, p = 0.028) and pre-existing chronic kidney or liver disease (aOR 13.73 95% CI 1.95–145.4, p = 0.015) as well as each 1-unit increase in creatinine level (aOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.9–0.98, p = 0.007). We also found that a prolonged LOS was associated with increased creatinine levels in patients with chronic kidney or liver disease (p < 0.001). In conclusion, female sex, fever, chronic kidney or liver disease before admission and increasing creatinine levels were associated with prolonged LOS in patients with COVID-19.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 707-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Milner ◽  
Anne-Marie Bollier ◽  
Eric Emerson ◽  
Anne Kavanagh

Abstract Background People with disabilities often face a range of social and economic adversities. Evidence suggests that these disadvantages result in poorer mental health. Some research also indicates that people with disabilities are more likely experience thoughts about suicide than people without disability, although most of this research is based on small cross-sectional samples. Methods We explored the relationship between self-reported disability (measured at baseline) and likelihood of reporting thoughts of suicide (measured at follow up) using a large longitudinal cohort of Australian males. A logistic regression model was conducted with thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months (yes or no) as the outcome and disability as the exposure. The models adjusted for relevant confounders, including mental health using the SF-12 MCS, and excluded males who reported thoughts of suicide at baseline. Results After adjustment, there was a 1.48 (95% CI: 0.98–2.23, P = 0.063) increase in the odds of thoughts of suicide among men who also reported a disability. The size of association was similar to that of being unemployed. Conclusions Males reporting disability may also suffer from thoughts of suicide. We speculate that discrimination may be one explanation for the observed association. More research on this topic is needed.


Author(s):  
Torres-Díaz JA ◽  
◽  
Gonzalez-Gonzalez JG ◽  
Zúniga-Hernández JA ◽  
Olivo-Gutiérrez MC ◽  
...  

Introduction: The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in Mexico. The quality of care these patients receive remains uncertain. Methods: This is a descriptive, single-center and cross-sectional cohort study. The KDOQI performance measures, hemoglobin level >11 g/dL, blood pressure <140/90 mmHg, serum albumin >4 g/dL and use of arteriovenous fistula of patients with ESRD on hemodialysis were analyzed in a period of a year. The association between mortality and the KDOQI objectives was evaluated with a logistic regression model. A linear regression model was also performed with the number of readmissions. Results: A total of 124 participants were included. Participants were categorized by the number of measures completed. Fourteen (11.3%) of the participants did not meet any of the goals, 51 (41.1%) met one, 43 (34.7%) met two, 11 (8.9%) met three, and 5 (4%) met the four clinical goals analyzed. A mortality of 11.2% was registered. In the logistic regression model, the number of goals met had an OR for mortality of 1.1 (95% CI 0.5-2.8). In the linear regression model, for the number of readmissions, a beta correlation with the number of KDOQI goals met was 0.246 (95% CI -0.872-1.365). Conclusion: The attainment of clinical goals and the mortality rate in our center is similar to that reported in the world literature. Our study did not find a significant association between compliance with clinical guidelines and mortality or the number of hospital admissions in CKD patients on hemodialysis.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e051677
Author(s):  
Jean Adams ◽  
David Pell ◽  
Tarra L Penney ◽  
David Hammond ◽  
Lana Vanderlee ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo determine whether public acceptability, in terms of both support for and perceived effectiveness of, the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) changed between 4 months prior to, and 8 and 20 months after, implementation.DesignRepeat cross-sectional online survey.SettingThe UK.ParticipantsUK respondents to the International Food Policy Study aged 18–64 years who provided information on all variables of interest in November–December 2017 (4 months prior to SDIL implementation), 2018 (8 months after) or 2019 (20 months after; n=10 284).Outcome measuresSelf-reported support for, and perceived effectiveness of, the SDIL.ResultsThe adjusted logistic regression model predicted that 70% (95% CI: 68% to 72%) of participants supported the SDIL in 2017, 68% (95% CI: 67% to 70%) in 2018 and 68% (95% CI: 66% to 70%) in 2019. There was no evidence of a difference in support in 2018 vs 2017 (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.05); or in 2019 vs 2017 (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.03). The adjusted logistic regression model predicted that 72% (95% CI: 70% to 74%) of participants perceived the SDIL to be effective in 2017, 67% (95% CI: 65% to 69%) in 2018 and 67% (95% CI: 64% to 69%) in 2019. There was evidence that perceived effectiveness decreased a small amount in 2018 vs 2017 (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.88). The difference in 2019 vs 2017 was similar.ConclusionsWe found high support for the SDIL among UK adults and this did not change between 4 months before implementation and 8 or 20 months after. While perceived effectiveness remained high, there was evidence that this decreased slightly after implementation in 2018, but no further in 2019. Greater understanding of influences on public acceptability of effective structural public health interventions is required.


Author(s):  
David R Walker ◽  
Jasmina Ivanova ◽  
Keith A Betts ◽  
Sapna Rao ◽  
Eric Q Wu

Background and Objective: Dabigatran etexilate (DE) and warfarin, both oral anticoagulants used for stroke risk reduction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), have been or are being compared in several comparative effectiveness studies. Understanding patient characteristics of those prescribed DE vs. warfarin are important for interpreting such studies. The objective of this study is to identify the characteristics that differentiate NVAF patients prescribed DE versus warfarin as first-line anticoagulation. Methods: An online survey was administered in October 2012 to an established panel of cardiologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) in the US. Physicians were asked to identify medical charts of their patients diagnosed with NVAF and who had at least one prescription for DE or warfarin between 1/1/2011 and 6/30/2012. Patients were further required to be anticoagulant naïve prior to the first prescription of DE or warfarin. A computer generated random dice was applied to direct the random selection of the patients. Patient characteristics, comorbidities and clinical risk measures were compared between DE and warfarin patients using Chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. A logistic regression model was utilized to evaluate patient characteristics associated with DE vs. warfarin use among anticoagulant naïve NVAF patients. Results: A total of 288 physicians (144 cardiologists and 144 PCPs) completed the survey. 262 medical records for DE patients and 247 for warfarin patients were randomly selected. The mean age of the DE and warfarin patients, respectively were 61.6 and 65.8 years (p < 0.01). The proportion of females was 20.6% and 41.7% in the DE and warfarin patients respectively (p<0.01). 86.3% of DE patients vs. 68.4% of warfarin patients were Caucasian (p<0.01). Other differences between DE and warfarin patients respectively included: previous myocardial infarction (3.8%, 9.3%; p<0.05), previous transient ischemic attack (8.4%, 16.2%; p <0.01), and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc stroke risk score (2.21, 2.98; p<0.01). The logistic regression model found age (OR = 0.96; p=0.001), female gender (OR=0.46; p = 0.002), Hispanic/Latino (OR = 0.33; p=.007), Black (OR= 0.37; p = 0.006), and > 6 months and < 1 year for time from first NVAF diagnosis to first prescription date (OR = 0.38; p = 0.02) were associated with initiation of DE vs. warfarin. However, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc was not found to be a significant predictor of anticoagulant prescription. Conclusions: Patients who are younger, male, Caucasian, and recently diagnosed with NVAF were significantly more likely to be initiated by their physician on DE vs. warfarin. These findings should be considered when doing comparative analyses of outcomes between patients on DE vs. warfarin.


Author(s):  
Maria Jose Madeira ◽  
Andreia Rocha

The aim of this study is the analysis of the effect that the entrepreneurship activities have in the development of an entrepreneurial profile of the students of a secondary level and their future entrepreneurial intentions. To empirically test the formulated hypothesis, a questionnaire was developed. By the application of methods of factorial analysis and a logistic regression model, it was concluded that variables like the incentive given by school agents, the participation of students in extracurricular activities and the desire to continue studying, influenced the entrepreneurial intentions of the students. Concerning the entrepreneurial profile, it was concluded that the students who have higher capacity of creation and concretization of entrepreneurial projects and a winning will, have a higher propensity to create their own business. This research analysed the impact of entrepreneurship activities on the development of the secondary school students' entrepreneurial profile, and understand whether these same activities influence their future intentions.


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