scholarly journals Mining Open Payments Data: Analysis of Industry Payments to Thoracic Surgeons From 2014-2016 (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Na ◽  
Haihong Guo ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Liu Shen ◽  
Sizhu Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Noncommunicable Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chord Diagram ◽  
Strong Concentration ◽  
The Us ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Financial Relationship ◽  
Open Payments

BACKGROUND The financial relationship between physicians and industries has become a hotly debated issue globally. The Physician Payments Sunshine Act of the US Affordable Care Act (2010) promoted transparency of the transactions between industries and physicians by making remuneration data publicly accessible in the Open Payments Program database. Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization, the majority of all noncommunicable disease deaths were caused by cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the distribution of non-research and non-ownership payments made to thoracic surgeons, to explore the regularity of financial relationships between industries and thoracic surgeons. METHODS Annual statistical data were obtained from the Open Payments Program general payment dataset from 2014-2016. We characterized the distribution of annual payments with single payment transactions greater than US $10,000, quantified the major expense categories (eg, Compensation, Consulting Fees, Travel and Lodging), and identified the 30 highest-paying industries. Moreover, we drew out the financial relations between industries to thoracic surgeons using chord diagram visualization. RESULTS The three highest categories with single payments greater than US $10,000 were Royalty or License, Compensation, and Consulting Fees. Payments related to Royalty or License transferred from only 5.38% of industries to 0.75% of surgeons with the highest median (US $13,753, $11,992, and $10,614 respectively) in 3-year period. In contrast, payments related to Food and Beverage transferred from 93.50% of industries to 98.48% of surgeons with the lowest median (US $28, $27, and $27). The top 30 highest-paying industries made up approximately 90% of the total payments (US $21,036,972, $23,304,996, and $28,116,336). Furthermore, just under 9% of surgeons received approximately 80% of the total payments in each of the 3 years. Specifically, the 100 highest cumulative payments, accounting for 52.69% of the total, transferred from 27 (6.05%) pharmaceutical industries to 86 (1.89%) thoracic surgeons from 2014-2016; 7 surgeons received payments greater than US $1,000,000; 12 surgeons received payments greater than US $400,000. The majority (90%) of these surgeons received tremendous value from only one industry. CONCLUSIONS There exists a great discrepancy in the distribution of payments by categories. Royalty or License Fees, Compensation, and Consulting Fees are the primary transferring channels of single large payments. The massive transfer from industries to surgeons has a strong “apical dominance” and excludability. Further research should focus on discovering the fundamental driving factors for the strong concentration of certain medical devices and how these payments will affect the industry itself.

scholarly journals A framework for the assessment and implementation of diagnostics in outbreak situations

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliot P. Cowan
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Agent ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Us ◽  
Health Need ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Test Requirements ◽  
Regulatory Evaluation ◽  
Development Assessment ◽  
Outbreak Situation

Observation: Outbreak situations require in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) to identify those who are infected and to track the infectious agent in the population. However, such IVDs are typically not available and must be developed. In addition, the process of IVD development, assessment, and implementation are very time and resource intensive. Recognising the extraordinary public health need for IVDs in an outbreak situation, streamlined processes are needed to provide tests that meet the standard of a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness in the shortest amount of time. These IVDs are designated for outbreak use.Addressing Issues: This paper presents a pathway to the outbreak use of IVDs that can be considered by countries experiencing an outbreak situation. It takes into account recognition of the outbreak, product development, regulatory evaluation, implementation, and monitoring of the outbreak-use test. Streamlined assessment programmes for emergency-use tests have been established by the US Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization. These programmes take into account test requirements for the country in which the outbreak exists. Therefore, countries can consider adopting these tests without the need to conduct expensive and time consuming assessments, such as performance studies. Key responsible parties are identified for each step of the pathway, recognising that transparency and communication among all parties are critical.

The elderly caregiver questionnaire for COVID-19 (ECQC-24)

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanif Abdul Rahman ◽  
Wegdan Bani Issa ◽  
Mohammad Rababa ◽  
Deeni Rudita Idris ◽  
Khadizah H. Abdul-Mumin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
World Health ◽  
Psychometric Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Caregiver Questionnaire ◽  
Health Organization

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new tool called the elderly caregiver questionnaire for COVID-19 (ECQC-24) that helps to assess caregiver attributes toward best possible care for elderly during this pandemic. Design/methodology/approach ECQC-24 was developed based on international team of experts and draw upon latest advice from reliable governing bodies such as World Health Organization and the US Centre of Disease Control. Psychometric analysis was applied to ensure the newly developed ECQC-24 is valid and reliable. Findings Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.72 to 0.87, and construct validity by exploratory factor analysis was acceptable. The results provide good estimates for the reliability and validity of ECQC-24. Originality/value More evidence is urgently needed to better inform clinicians, health and social policymakers and related stakeholders and organizations involved in caring for the elderly. ECQC-24, the manual to use and analyzing tools are freely available for download and use at https://sites.google.com/view/the-elderly-caregiver-covid19/home.

Pharmaco-EcoMicrobiology and Its Potential Role in Medical and Environmental Sciences

2012 ◽  
pp. 291-302
Author(s):  
Mohd. Shahid ◽  
Hridesh Mishra ◽  
Hemant Kumar Mishra ◽  
Trivendra Tripathi ◽  
Haris M. Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Technologies ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Drug Effects ◽  
Pharmacy Education ◽  
World Health ◽  
Adverse Drug Effects ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries ◽  
Health Organization

Despite the call of the World Health Organization (WHO) for “Pharmacovigilance,” i.e. the monitoring, detection, assessment, and prevention of any adverse reactions, poor attention has been given to identify the long term and short term Adverse Effects (ADEs) of antimicrobial agents on the environment. It is obvious that most of the health sectors across the globe are occupied by infectious diseases (e.g. tuberculosis, HIV, and hepatitis), and to combat such threats, the pharmaceutical industries are pouring tons of drugs and reagents into a market worth billions of dollars. The discharge of these products into the ecosystem is potentially a threat to the environment and human health. In this chapter, the authors depicted a recently described terminology, “Pharmaco-EcoMicrobiology” (PEcM), that could cover these problems and their possible solutions on medical and environmental aspects. In this regard, the role of pharmacoinformatics could also be crucial, since it can provide swift information for implementation and use of information technologies for the discovery and development of drugs as well as in pharmacy education and also the detection and combat of adverse drug effects.

scholarly journals Alcohol skin preparation causes surgical fires

2012 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Rocos ◽  
LJ Donaldson
Keyword(s):  
Fire Risk ◽  
World Health ◽  
Training Curriculum ◽  
Skin Preparation ◽  
Us States ◽  
National Patient Safety Agency ◽  
The Us ◽  
National Patient ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Uk

INTRODUCTION Surgical fires are a rare but serious preventable safety risk in modern hospitals. Data from the US show that up to 650 surgical fires occur each year, with up to 5% causing death or serious harm. This study used the National Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS) database at the National Patient Safety Agency to explore whether spirit-based surgical skin preparation fluid contributes to the cause of surgical fires. METHODS The NRLS database was interrogated for all incidents of surgical fires reported between 1 March 2004 and 1 March 2011. Each report was scrutinised manually to discover the cause of the fire. RESULTS Thirteen surgical fires were reported during the study period. Of these, 11 were found to be directly related to spirit-based surgical skin preparation or preparation soaked swabs and drapes. CONCLUSIONS Despite manufacturer's instructions and warnings, surgical fires continue to occur. Guidance published in the UK and US states that spirit-based skin preparation solutions should continue to be used but sets out some precautions. It may be that fire risk should be included in pre-surgical World Health Organization checklists or in the surgical training curriculum. Surgical staff should be aware of the risk that spirit-based skin preparation fluids pose and should take action to minimise the chance of fire occurring.

scholarly journals Is COVID-19 the end of US hegemony? Public bads, leadership failures and monetary hegemony

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 1281-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Norrlöf
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Goods ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Hegemony ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Public Bads ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract COVID-19 is the most invasive global crisis in the postwar era, jeopardizing all dimensions of human activity. By theorizing COVID-19 as a public bad, I shed light on one of the great debates of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries regarding the relationship between the United States and liberal international order (LIO). Conceptualizing the pandemic as a public bad, I analyze its consequences for US hegemony. Unlike other international public bads and many of the most important public goods that make up the LIO, the COVID-19 public bad not only has some degree of rivalry but can be made partially excludable, transforming it into more of a club good. Domestically, I demonstrate how the failure to effectively manage the COVID-19 public bad has compromised America's ability to secure the health of its citizens and the domestic economy, the very foundations for its international leadership. These failures jeopardize US provision of other global public goods. Internationally, I show how the US has already used the crisis strategically to reinforce its opposition to free international movement while abandoning the primary international institution tasked with fighting the public bad, the World Health Organization (WHO). While the only area where the United States has exercised leadership is in the monetary sphere, I argue this feat is more consequential for maintaining hegemony. However, even monetary hegemony could be at risk if the pandemic continues to be mismanaged.

scholarly journals Probiotic Products in Canada with Clinical Evidence: What Can Gastroenterologists Recommend?

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Reid ◽  
Kingsley Anukam ◽  
Tara Koyama
Keyword(s):  
United States Of America ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
The Us ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Canada

Probiotics, defined as ‘live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host’, are finally becoming an option for gastroenterologists in Canada, after being available for many years in Japan, Europe and the United States of America. Unfortunately, Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have not controlled the use of the term ‘probiotic’ or put into place United Nations and World Health Organization guidelines. The net result is that a host of products called ‘probiotics’ are available but are not truly probiotic. The aim of the present review was to discuss the rationale for probiotics in gastroenterology, and specifically examine which products are options for physicians in Canada, and which ones patients might be using. It is hoped that by clarifying what probiotics are, and the strengths and limitations of their use, specialists will be better placed to make recommendations on the role of these products in patient care. In due course, more clinically documented probiotics will emerge, some with therapeutic effects based on a better understanding of disease processes.

MEASUREMENT OF RADON ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION IN UNDERGROUND WATER OF BURETI SUB-COUNTY OF KERICHO COUNTY KENYA

2020 ◽  
Vol 192 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
Charles K Rotich ◽  
Nadir O Hashim ◽  
Margaret W Chege ◽  
Catherine Nyambura
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Underground Water ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Annual Dose ◽  
Radon Activity ◽  
A Value ◽  
The Us ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract The activity concentration of radon in underground water of Bureti sub-county was measured using liquid scintillating counter device. The average radon activity concentration in all the water samples was 12.41 Bql−1. The maximum and minimum activity concentrations of radon were 22.5 and 4.57 Bql−1, respectively. In total, 53% of the total samples analysed had radon concentration levels above the US Environmental Protection Agency-recommended limit of 11.1 Bql−1. The annual dose received by an individual as a result of waterborne radon was determined according to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation reports and was found to be 33.23 𝜇Svy−1. All the samples recorded a value <100 𝜇Svy−1 recommended by the World Health Organization and the European Union council.

Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases - Past, Present and Future

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Takeda ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Law ◽  
Global Response ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Us Government ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Global Threat

The global threat of new infectious diseases first became widely recognized in the 1990s. The US government published a report on emerging and reemerging infectious diseases followed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which adopted the slogan "Emerging Infectious Diseases: Global Alert, Global Response" in 1997. Typical examples of the more than 30 infectious diseases emerging since 1970s are HIV/AIDS, Vibrio cholerae O139 infection, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and avian influenza. The New Infectious Diseases Control Law enacted in Japan in 1999 was to control these emerging infectious diseases and the already existing ones.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document