scholarly journals Choice of and Equity in First-Contact Care in China’s Zhejiang and Qinghai Province: A Comparative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueshan Sun ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Xuemei Zhen ◽  
Xiaoqian Hu ◽  
Shuyan Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Care Provider ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Horizontal Equity ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Horizontal Inequity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Qinghai Province ◽  
Index Decomposition ◽  
Equitable Utilization ◽  
First Contact

Abstract Background The imbalance between health needs and healthcare resources has become more serious in China. The hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system has played an important role in solving the problem, one goal of which was to increase the use of basic-level medical facilities. This study aimed to compare the choice of and equity in first-contact care among residents in Zhejiang and Qinghai provinces, China. Methods First-hand data were obtained through a cross-sectional survey of residents of Zhejiang and Qinghai. We first compared the proportion of residents who select primary healthcare institutions as the setting for first-contact care. Then we compared horizontal equity using the concentration index decomposition method. An urban-rural subgroup analysis was carried out for both provinces. Results A total of 4899 residents were enrolled, 2872 from Zhejiang and 2027 from Qinghai. The proportion of residents selecting a PHI as their first-contact care provider was 82.5% in Qinghai, and 54.4% in Zhejiang. The horizontal inequity index of selecting a PHI as first-contact care was − 0.180 and 0.007 in Zhejiang and Qinghai, respectively. The HI was − 0.088, -0.160, 0.069, and − 0.058 in rural Zhejiang, urban Zhejiang, rural Qinghai, and urban Qinghai, respectively. Conclusions The proportion of residents selecting a PHI as their first-contact care provider in Zhejiang was lower and the extents of horizontal inequity were more serious compared with Qinghai’s. We suggest that medical reform should be implemented based on socioeconomic development, because of China’s geographic vastness and the considerable amount of difference in development among geographic areas. Larger gaps in the medical insurance reimbursement ratio between different levels of medical institutions might aid in increasing the equitable utilization of PHIs.

Consumption behavior and purchase intention of cultured meat in the capital of the “state of barbecue,” Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Munz Fernandes ◽  
Lucas Teixeira Costa ◽  
Odilene de Souza Teixeira ◽  
Francisca Viviane dos Santos ◽  
Jean Philippe Palma Revillion ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Population Heterogeneity ◽  
Porto Alegre ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumption Behavior ◽  
Cultured Meat

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the attitudes of meat consumers in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, concerning cultured meat. This State is characterized by its strong cultural identity and social practices, barbecue being its typical dish.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied a cross-sectional survey with meat consumers residing in Porto Alegre/RS, the sample of which, composed of 538 individuals, expressed the population heterogeneity. The data were analyzed using the Pearson chi-square, Cramer's V, and correspondence analysis.FindingsThe results demonstrate that although six of ten people were willing to try cultured meat, only four of them responded positively to the willingness to consume it over conventional meat. Young individuals demonstrated a favorable attitude towards the product, expressing a greater propensity both to try it and to include it in the diet regularly. However, the rejection of cultured meat gradually intensified after 40 years old. The previous knowledge and familiarity with the investigated subject are not predictive of the intention of experimentation so that almost two-thirds of the individuals who did not know the product were positively willing to try it.Originality/valueDespite the recent intensification of studies about consumer behavior towards cultured meat, its analysis in a context in which meat historically plays a fundamental role in socioeconomic development is still little explored. The originality of our research is circumscribed by the understanding of the behavior of meat consumers, members of a culture where it plays a central role.

scholarly journals Festival tourism and socioeconomic development: case of Kwahu traditional areas of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Doe ◽  
Alexander Preko ◽  
Hellen Akroful ◽  
Effie Kwaaba Okai-Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Traditional Area

PurposeThe place of festivals in national economic development has received increased attention from researchers globally. However, there appears to be a relatively small and disparate literature on the subject especially within the Ghanaian context. The study seeks to contribute to the global recognition of festivals as developmental tools and thus presents the effects of festival tourism on socio-economic capital of the people of Kwahu traditional area (Ghana) and how festival tourism in the region engenders economic benefits to businesses and the community.Design/methodology/approachThis study is guided by the social development theory. A quantitative cross-sectional survey utilizing convenience technique was used to gather data from a sample of 398 residents of the selected towns and the regression model was used to analyse the data.FindingsThe findings revealed festival tourism to have a positive effect on community cohesiveness but not statistically significant. Further, the festival brought economic gains but had negative social effects on development of the selected towns.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is destination-specific. The application of the findings to other festivals would demand a bigger sample size for generalisation to be made.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that for growth of festival tourism in Ghana to be actualised, the Ghana Tourism Authority needs to ensure festivals do not erode entrenched traditional values and negate efforts at developing social structures and systems by putting measures to reduce the negative effect of commoditisation of festivals on the communities' cultural authenticity. Law enforcement agents should also be massively beefed up to curtail crime and social vices.Originality/valueThe study's findings extend earlier studies to extend the scope in festival tourism literature. This study found that festival tourism has effect on both community cohesion and economic development of the people of Kwahu traditional area.

scholarly journals Evaluating the performance of South African primary care: a cross-sectional descriptive survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Graham Bresick ◽  
Klaus B. Von Pressentin ◽  
Robert Mash
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
First Contact

Introduction: In 2018 governments reaffirmed their commitment to implementing primary health care (PHC) in the Astana Declaration. South Africa has introduced a number of health reforms to strengthen PHC and enable universal health coverage (UHC). UHC requires access to quality primary care and progress needs to be measured. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of South African primary care using the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT).Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey used data derived from a previous analytical observational study. Data from 413 patients, 136 health workers and 55 managers were analysed from 30 community health centres across four provinces of South Africa. Scores were obtained for 10 key domains and an overall primary care score. Scores were compared in terms of respondents, provinces and monthly headcount.Results: Patients rated first contact accessibility, ongoing care and community orientation as the poorest performing elements ( 50% scoring as ‘acceptable to good’); first contact utilisation, informational coordination and family-centredness as weaker elements ( 66% scoring as ‘acceptable to good’); and comprehensiveness, coordination, cultural competency and availability of the PHC team as stronger aspects of primary care (≥ 66% or more scoring as ‘acceptable or good’). Managers and providers were generally much more positive about the performance of PHC.Conclusion: Gaps exist between PHC users’ experience of care and what PHC staff believe they provide. Priorities to strengthen South African primary care include improving access, informational and relational continuity of care, and ensuring the implementation of community-orientated primary care. The PCAT is a useful tool to measure quality of primary care and progress with UHC.

Chronic conditions and barriers to care: exploring the health of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Indiana

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-234
Author(s):  
Michelle Sandoval-Rosario ◽  
Theresa Marie Hunter ◽  
Adrienne Durnham ◽  
Antoniette Holt ◽  
Pam Pontones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Provider ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Migrant And Seasonal Farmworkers ◽  
Seasonal Farmworkers

Purpose Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) have many health challenges due to the nature of their work, low wages, living conditions, mobility, and lack of health insurance. The purpose of this paper is to assess the availability of health services, barriers to accessing health care, and the prevalence of chronic conditions among MSFWs in Indiana. Design/methodology/approach A site-based convenience sample of MSFWs aged 14 years and older completed a cross-sectional survey. A total of 97 participants who currently or previously identified as farmworkers completed the questionnaire. Findings Almost one-third of the respondents reported no access to a health care provider. Of those, 43 percent reported that cost prevented them from seeking care. Of those who reported chronic conditions ( n=22), over 50 percent did not have access to a health care provider. These findings highlight the need to further investigate the magnitude of the problem and begin exploring ways to improve affordable health care access among MSFWs in Northeastern Indiana. Originality/value The results from this study highlight the need for the development and implementation of community health education programs that target MSFWs in Indiana. The findings, although not generalized, offer important insights into health care challenges and barriers to access in Indiana. The authors recommend that assistance programs should be implemented for providing affordable health care services for Hispanic MSFWs.

National Cross-Sectional Survey: U.S. Parents’ Acceptance of Learning about Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mala Mathur ◽  
Bradley R. Kerr ◽  
Jessica C. Babal ◽  
Jens C. Eickhoff ◽  
Ryan J. Coller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Provider ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Mindfulness Practices

BACKGROUND Mindfulness practices are associated with improved health and well-being for children. Few studies have assessed parents’ acceptance of learning about mindfulness practices. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess parents’ beliefs and interest in learning about mindfulness, including from their health care provider, and differences across demographic backgrounds. METHODS We conducted a national, cross-sectional survey of parents with 0-18-year-old children in October 2018. Measures included beliefs and interest in learning about mindfulness. These measures were compared across demographic backgrounds using chi-squared analysis. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to perform adjusted comparisons between demographic backgrounds. RESULTS Participants (N=3,000) were 87% female and 82.5% Caucasian. Most (64.2%) reported beliefs that mindfulness can be beneficial when parenting, 53.7% showed interest in learning about mindfulness to help their child stay healthy, and 40.8% reported interest in learning about mindfulness from their health care provider. Parents with a college degree 49.6% (n=444) were more likely to report interest in learning about mindfulness from a health care provider compared to those without 37.1% (n=768) (P<.001). Parents interested in learning about mindfulness were more likely to be male 62.6% (n=223) (P<.001). There was no significant difference in interest in learning about mindfulness from a health care provider based on race. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that many parents believe mindfulness can be beneficial while parenting and are interested in learning how mindfulness could help their child stay healthy. Findings suggest there is an opportunity to educate families about mindfulness practices. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable.

scholarly journals I felt so much conflict instead of joy: an analysis of open-ended comments from people in British Columbia who declined care recommendations during pregnancy and childbirth

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Stoll ◽  
Jessie J. Wang ◽  
Paulomi Niles ◽  
Lindsay Wells ◽  
Saraswathi Vedam
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Trust In Healthcare Providers ◽  
Pregnancy And Birth

Abstract Background No Canadian studies to date have examined the experiences of people who decline aspects of care during pregnancy and birth. The current analysis bridges this gap by describing comments from 1123 people in British Columbia (BC) who declined a test or procedure that their care provider recommended. Methods In the Changing Childbirth in BC study, childbearing people designed a mixed-methods study, including a cross-sectional survey on experiences of provider-patient interactions over the course of maternity care. We conducted a descriptive quantitative content analysis of 1540 open ended comments about declining care recommendations. Results More than half of all study participants (n = 2100) declined care at some point during pregnancy, birth, or the postpartum period (53.5%), making this a common phenomenon. Participants most commonly declined genetic or gestational diabetes testing, ultrasounds, induction of labour, pharmaceutical pain management during labour, and eye prophylaxis for the newborn. Some people reported that care providers accepted or supported their decision, and others described pressure and coercion from providers. These negative interactions resulted in childbearing people feeling invisible, disempowered and in some cases traumatized. Loss of trust in healthcare providers were also described by childbearing people whose preferences were not respected whereas those who felt informed about their options and supported to make decisions about their care reported positive birth experiences. Conclusions Declining care is common during pregnancy and birth and care provider reactions and behaviours greatly influence how childbearing people experience these events. Our findings confirm that clinicians need further training in person-centred decision-making, including respectful communication even when choices fall outside of standard care.

scholarly journals Assessing Cranial Nerves in Physical Therapy Practice: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey and Implication for Clinical Practice

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1262
Author(s):  
Firas Mourad ◽  
Giovanni Lopez ◽  
Fabio Cataldi ◽  
Filippo Maselli ◽  
Leonardo Pellicciari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
First Contact

Background and objective: Serious pathologies of the neck can potentially result in cranial nerve palsy. Knowledge about cranial nerve examination (CNE) seems sparse, and its use is still unknown. We aim to investigate the knowledge, skills, and utilization of CNE of Italian physiotherapists. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey. Results: 396 completed the survey, reaching the required sample size. Although Italian physiotherapists consider CNE relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 ± 2.0), over half of all responders (n = 229 (57.8%)) were not trained in the fundamentals and around a third did not use it in their daily practice (n = 138 (34.8%)). Additionally, participants were unconfident and insecure in conducting (n = 152 (38.4%) and n = 147 (37.1%)), interpreting (n = 140 (35.4%) and n = 164 (41.4%)), and managing the CNE (n = 141 (35.6%) and n = 154 (38.9%)). Possessing a musculoskeletal specialization was associated with an increased value attributed to clinical practice guidelines and reduced the lack of confidence in conducting, interpreting, and managing the CNE (respectively, n = 35 (25.5%), p = 0.0001; n = 32 (23.4%) p = 0.0002; n = 32 (23.4%) p = 0.0002). Working in a direct access setting significantly increased the considered relevance of guidelines and the concerns about arterial (p = 0.004) and other serious pathologies (p = 0.021). Pain and visual disturbances were considered the main indicators to CNE, demonstrating limited knowledge of signs and symptoms’ indicating CNE. Participants considered specific training in CNE as relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 = 2.1). Conclusions: a substantial proportion of Italian physiotherapists are not schooled in the fundamentals of cranial nerve examination. Given the number of physiotherapists who work in first contact roles, this is a professional concern.

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