Informal Providers, Pluralistic Health Systems, and India's COVID-19 Response: A Cross-Sectional Telephonic Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna D. Rao ◽  
Japneet Kaur ◽  
Michael A. Peters ◽  
Naveet Kumar ◽  
Priya Nanda
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
ASAGA MAC PETER ◽  
JUDE OSAGIE Aighobahi.

Abstract Background: Tuberculosis (TB) coexists with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Smoking increases the risk of TB as well as DM. Health systems are poorly prepared in many low middle income countries (LMICs) and are currently facing the "triple burden of smoking, TB, and DM" that drives these countries into the vicious cycle of poverty. Methods: A cross-sectional study method was carried out to assess the proportion of TB care centers that included integration measures for diabetic care as well as those providing DM care that included integration measures for TB. A list of 49 health care centers in Lagos offering TB care and managing Diabetes patients were recruited. A focus Group Discussion(FGD) and Individual interviews were conducted to investigate health care providers ' knowledge, attitudes and practices and the barriers encountered in the process of integrating TB and DM care. Results: Out of the 49 health care centres recruited in this study, 6% of health care units are aware of a surveillance to screen for diabetes in tuberculosis patients, while 2% of health facilities confirmed awareness of a surveillance to screen for tuberculosis in diabetes patients. 91% of health centres either verified the lack of or no understanding of monitoring of both diseases. The percentage of health facilities that have existing guideline on TB and DM screening was evaluated, it was perceived that 8% of health facilities had implemented a guideline to screen for DM in TB patients, while 4% of these Care Centres have implemented a guideline for diabetes patients to be screened for TB. Conclusion TB/DM integrative screening, treatment and management could be better attained if both co-morbidities integration program is initiated in the healthcare centres and policies of western states and Nigeria as a whole.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yu Wan ◽  
Yinhao Wang ◽  
Liming Zhao ◽  
Zhenyu Wang ◽  
Min Sun ◽  
...  

Background. With the development of the economy, socioeconomic factors, such as inequalities in the status of regional economies and the subsequent effects on health systems, have influenced the status of health. We explored the association between age-related cataracts and socioeconomic indicators, including the regional economy, health systems, and energy industries. Methods. This was a prospective, multicenter, Chinese population-based, cross-sectional study. A total of 830 participants from seven centers were enrolled. Data on the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III) score, Visual Function Index-14 (VF-14) score, total and subscale scores of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25), per capita disposable income (PCDI), medical resource-related indicators, and investments in the energy industry were obtained. Associations among these parameters were analyzed. Results. The PCDI ranking was correlated with the VF-14 score (R = −0.426, P < 0.01 ), total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (r = −0.500, P < 0.01 ), and BCVA (r = 0.278, P < 0.01 ). The number of health agencies (r1 = 0.267, r2 = −0.303, r3 = −0.291,), practicing or assistant practicing doctors (r1 = -0.283, r2 = 0.427, r3 = 0.502,), registered nurses (r1 = −0.289, r2 = 0.409, r3 = 0.469, P < 0.01 ), and health technicians (r1 = −0.278, r2 = 0.426, r3 = 0.500, P < 0.01 ) per 10,000 of the population was each correlated with the BCVA, VF-14 score, and total score of NEI-VFQ-25, respectively. Health expenditure per capita was correlated with the VF-14 score (r = 0.287, P < 0.01 ) and total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (r = 0.459, P < 0.01 ). The LOCS III P score was correlated with investments in the energy industry (r = 0.485, P < 0.001 ). Conclusions. Patients in higher economic regions with greater medical resources show a greater demand to undergo cataract surgery at a better subjective and objective visual function. The energy industry has a significant effect on cataracts, especially the posterior subcapsular cataract, and thus more attention should be paid to people in regions with abundant energy industries.


2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
KOUSTUV DALAL ◽  
OLATUNDE AREMU

SummaryCatastrophic spending on health care through out-of-pocket payment is a huge problem in most low- and middle-income countries all over the world. The collapse of health systems and poverty have resulted in the proliferation of the private health sector in Cambodia, but very few studies have examined the fairness in ease of utilization of these services based on mode of payment. This study examined the utilization of health services for sickness or injury and identified its relationship with people's ability to pay for treatment seeking at various instances. Based on cross-sectional data from the Cambodian 2007 Demographic and Health Survey, the economic index estimated through principal component analysis and Lorenz curve was used to quantify the degree of fairness and equality in utilization and payment burden among the respondents. A distinct level of fairness was found in health care utilization and out-of-pocket payments. Specifically, use of private health care facilities and over-the-counter remedies dominate, and out-of-pocket payments cut across all socioeconomic strata. As many countries in low- and middle-income regions, and most importantly those in transition such as Cambodia, are repositioning their health systems, efforts should be made towards maintaining equitable access through adoption of finance mechanisms that make utilization of health care services fair and equitable.


BMJ Leader ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-200
Author(s):  
Agnes Bäker ◽  
Mickael Bech ◽  
Jaason Geerts ◽  
Susanne Maigaard Axelsen ◽  
Henrik Ullum ◽  
...  

PurposeCalls for doctors to enter management are louder as the benefits of medical leadership become clearer. However, supply is not meeting demand. This study asks doctors (physicians): what might encourage you to go into leadership, and what are the disincentives? The same was asked about leadership training. First, the paper tries to understand doctors’ motivation to lead, specifically, to explore the job characteristics that act as incentives and disincentives. Second, the study points to organisational obstacles that further shrink the medical leadership pipeline.MethodDoctors were surveyed through the Organization of Danish Medical Societies. Our key variables included: (1) the incentives and disincentives for doctors of going into leadership and management and (2) the motivation to participate in leadership training. Our sample of 3534 doctors (17% response) is representative of the population of doctors in Denmark.FindingsThe main reason why doctors are motivated towards leadership is to make a difference. They are put off by fears of extra administration, longer hours, burnout, lack of resources and by organisational cultures resistant to change. However, doctors are aware of their need for leadership development prior to entering management.Practical implicationsTo improve succession planning, health systems should adapt to reflect the incentives of their potential medical leaders. Leadership training is also essential. These changes are especially important now; medical leaders are linked positively to organisational and patient outcomes and have been central in responding to COVID-19, stress and burnout among clinical staff continues to rise, and health systems face recruitment and retention challenges.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nakiya N Showell ◽  
Corinna Koebnick ◽  
Lisa R DeCamp ◽  
Margo Sidell ◽  
Tatiahna Rivera Rodriguez ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Despite a recent decline in the obesity prevalence among preschool-aged children, obesity remains disproportionately high among children from low-income racial or ethnic minority families. Promoting healthy lifestyles (eg, obesity-preventative behaviors) in primary care settings is particularly important for young children, given the frequency of preventative health visits and parent-provider interactions. Higher adoption of specific health behaviors is correlated with increased patient activation (ie, skill, confidence, and knowledge to manage their health care) among adults. However, no published study, to date, has examined the relationship between parental activation and obesity-related health behaviors among young children. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study is to measure parental activation in low-income parents of preschoolers in 2 large health systems and to examine the association with diet, screen-time, and physical activity behaviors. METHODS We will conduct a cross-sectional study of parents of preschool-aged patients (2-5 years) receiving primary care at multiple clinic sites within 2 large health care systems. Study participants, low-income black, Hispanic, and white parents of preschool-aged patients, are being recruited across both health systems to complete orally administered surveys. RESULTS Recruitment began in December 2017 and is expected to end in May 2018. A total of 267 low-income parents of preschool-aged children have been enrolled across both clinic sites. We are enrolling an additional 33 parents to reach our goal sample size of 300 across both health systems. The data analysis will be completed in June 2018. CONCLUSIONS This protocol outlines the first study to fully examine parental activation and its relationship with parent-reported diet, physical activity, and screen-time behaviors among low-income preschool-aged patients. It involves recruitment across 2 geographically distinct areas and resulting from a partnership between researchers at 2 different health systems with multiple clinical sites. This study will provide new knowledge about how parental activation can potentially be incorporated as a strategy to address childhood obesity disparities in primary care settings. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR RR1-10.2196/9688


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Reem Al Madani ◽  
Shahzeb H. Ansari

INTRODUCTION: The dispersion of severe COVID-19 has already occupied on pandemic extents, disturbing over 100 nations in a matter of months. A worldwide response to formulate health systems global is imperious. MATERIALS &amp; METHODS: This is a cross sectional study conducted among the Saudi general public using an online survey. Saudis (male and female) of all ages willing to participate in this study were requested to fill up the survey. An online questionnaire was designed using Google Forms with questions related to personal and demographic information followed by COVID-10 related questions. RESULTS: A total of N=1026 subjects participated in this study and responded by completing the online survey. They were divided into groups including gender, age, education and profession type. As far as gender was concerned, 243 (23.7%) males and 783 (76.3%) females took part. CONCLUSION: Overall knowledge of Saudis regarding COVID-19 is above average.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Foley ◽  
A Steel ◽  
J Adams

Abstract Background Increasing chronic condition diagnoses burden public health systems, individuals and communities. The duration and complexity of chronic conditions require ongoing, multifaceted care - such as person-centred care (PCC) - to address the individual needs and quality of life for patients. Many patients with chronic conditions seek additional care outside mainstream medicine, often consulting complementary medicine (CM) practitioners. This study examines the extent of PCC being experienced by patients with chronic conditions who consult CM practitioners. Methods Cross-sectional survey (n = 191), conducted nationally, November 2018 to March 2019, in clinics of the five CM professions most commonly consulted by individuals with chronic conditions in Australia (massage, chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy). Participants with chronic conditions (n = 153) were surveyed about experiences of PCC during CM consultation, and regarding consultation with medical doctors, using four validated measures. Results During consultation with CM practitioners, patient perceptions of PCC were consistently high. Ratings of PCC were consistently higher for consultations with any CM practitioners (summary mean 3.33) than consultations with medical doctors (summary mean 2.95). The highest mean scores for PCC were reported by patients of naturopaths (summary mean 4.04). Variations in perceived PCC for different items between professions indicate nuance in the experience of consultation across different CM professions. Conclusions This study indicates PCC is characteristic of CM consultation, which may reflect CM philosophies such as holism. CM practitioners may present an existing resource of PCC. Further attention should be given to CM professions regarding the potential to address unmet needs of individuals with chronic conditions, and subsequently to better manage the public health burden associated with chronic conditions. Key messages Person-centred care appears to be a consistent characteristic of complementary medicine clinical care for individuals with chronic conditions. Due to rising rates of chronic conditions and the associated burden on public health systems, complementary medicine professions should be considered as a resource to optimise chronic illness care.


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