Telehealth Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What are Healthcare Workers Saying? (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Nitiema
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Discussion Forum ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Online Discussion Forum ◽  
Textual Data ◽  
Sentiment Score

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns for controlling the spread of the infection have led to a surge in telehealth adoption by many healthcare organizations. It is unclear how this pandemic has impacted health professionals’ view about telehealth. The analysis of textual data such as comments posted on a discussion forum can uncover information that may not be captured by a structured survey. OBJECTIVE To examine the opinions of healthcare workers about telehealth services during the timeframe of March 2013 through December 2020. METHODS Comments about telehealth posted by healthcare workers from at least 46 countries were collected from an online discussion forum dedicated to health professionals. The analysis included the computation of sentiment scores from the textual data and the use of structural topic modeling to identify the topics of discussions as well as the factors that may be associated with the prevalence of these topics. RESULTS The analysis of the comments revealed positive opinions about the perceived benefits of telehealth services before and during the pandemic, especially the ability to reach patients who cannot come to the health facility for diverse reasons. However, opinions about these benefits were less positive during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period Specific issues raised during the pandemic included technical difficulties encountered during telehealth sessions and the inability to perform certain care routines through telehealth platforms. While comments on the quality of care provided through telehealth were associated with a negative sentiment score overall, the average score was less negative during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, signaling a shift in opinion on the quality of telehealth services. Also, the analysis uncovered obstacles to the adoption of telehealth, including the absence of adequate legal dispositions for telehealth services and issues regarding the payment of these services by health insurance organizations. CONCLUSIONS : Enhancing the adoption of telehealth services beyond the pandemic requires addressing issues related to the quality of care, payment of services, and legal dispositions for delivering these services. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Creation of a specific and separated pediatric intra-hospital pathway in primary level hospitals during the era of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 205873922110108
Author(s):  
Marco Manfredi ◽  
Pietro Ragni ◽  
Giancarlo Gargano
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Primary Level ◽  
Level Hospital ◽  
Rule Out

Every new pandemic forces us to start new specific behaviors both in the civil life and within the hospitals trying to contain the spreading of the infection and preserve the more fragile people. In this regard, at the debut of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, our Local Health Agency had drastically modified every clinical and organizational pathways in order to limit the diffusion of the infection as well as to maintain a good quality of care and preserve healthcare workers. We report how we have modified the usual pediatric intra-hospital pathways in our primary level hospital to avoid mixing children with suspected and non-suspected symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Before every hospitalization, regardless of symptoms, each child and him/her parent/caregiver are undergone to rapid antigenic and molecular swab to rule out a SARS-CoV-2 infection; hence, positive patients are transferred to Pediatric Unit of third level hospital equipped by a Pediatric COVID Intensive Unit. We think the healthcare behaviors described in this manuscript can help to reduce the intra-hospital spreading of SARS-CoV-2, although children seem to have a minimal role in the dissemination, but we cannot let down your guard. Simultaneously we observed that the overall children requiring inpatient pediatric evaluation and hospitalization have dramatically decreased from the beginning of pandemic.

scholarly journals Factors Facilitating Destructive Behaviors in Nurses Towards Other Healthcare Workers in Iranian Healthcare Organizations: a Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahboobeh Afzali ◽  
Jamileh Mokhtari ◽  
Abbas Ebadi ◽  
Milad Rezaiye
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Destructive Behavior ◽  
State Hospitals ◽  
Content Analysis Method ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Resource Shortage ◽  
Destructive Behaviors

Abstract Introduction: Destructive behavior is considered a chronic, deep-rooted problem in the profession of nursing. Academic articles addressing the issue have existed in literature for the past three decades. Destructive behavior costs healthcare institutions in terms of funds, and it has unpleasant impacts such as escalating absenteeism, reduced productivity, and reduced quality of care for the patients. Finding ways to eliminate such behavior requires a perception and full recognition of the factors that cause and promote it. Since destructive behavior is a complex, multi-dimensional concept that is dependent on context and the culture of the particular organization or society, this research concentrates on the factors shaping such behavior and promoting it in Iranian healthcare institutions.Material and Methods: The present study makes use of the conventional content analysis method to explore the views and experiences of nurses and other healthcare workers by interviewing 30 individuals and one focus group and recording 120 hours of observation in 6 hospitals around the capital city of Tehran comprising 2 private facilities and 4 state hospitals. The interviews were all recorded, transcribed and analyzed.Results: Through data analysis 26 subcategories and 5 main categories of underlying causes, namely, inappropriate organizational mindset, ineffectual management, complex conditions of work in the nursing occupation, unprofessional standards of education and training for nurses, and personal contributions were identified.Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the main factors promoting destructive behavior in Iranian healthcare organizations are the organizations themselves. To solve the problem of destructive behaviors organizational problems such as ineffectual management, shortage of facilities and infrastructures, a chronic human resource shortage, institutionalized injustice stemming from a state of physicians’ oligarchy, favoritism as a cultural trait, and systematic bullying must first be tackled.

scholarly journals Tracking patients healthcare experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak: Topic modeling and sentiment analysis of doctor reviews

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan M. Shah ◽  
◽  
Xiangbin Yan ◽  
Samia tariq ◽  
Syed Asad A. Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Sentiment Analysis ◽  
Topic Modeling ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Time Slice ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Physician Rating ◽  
Physician Rating Website

Emerging voices of patients in the form of opinions and expectations about the quality of care can improve healthcare service quality. A large volume of patients’ opinions as online doctor reviews (ODRs) are available online to access, analyze, and improve patients’ perceptions. This paper aims to explore COVID-19-related conversations, complaints, and sentiments using ODRs posted by users of the physician rating website. We analyzed 96,234 ODRs of 5,621 physicians from a prominent health rating website in the United Kingdom (Iwantgreatcare.org) in threetime slices (i.e., from February 01 to October 31, 2020). We employed machine learning approach, dynamic topic modeling, to identify prominent bigrams, salient topics and labels, sentiments embedded in reviews and topics, and patient-perceived root cause and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analyses to examine SWOT for healthcare organizations. This method finds a total of 30 latent topics with 10 topics across each time slice. The current study identified new discussion topics about COVID-19 occurring from time slice 1 to time slice 3, such as news about the COVID-19 pandemic, violence against the lockdown, quarantine process and quarantine centers at different locations, and vaccine development/treatment to stop virus spread. Sentiment analysis reveals that fear for novel pathogen prevails across all topics. Based on the SWOT analysis, our findings provide a clue for doctors, hospitals, and government officials to enhance patients’ satisfaction and minimize dissatisfaction by satisfying their needs and improve the quality of care during the COVID-19 crisis.

Policies on Telemedicine-Enhanced Hospital Services

2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Angelo Rossi Mori ◽  
Mariangela Contenti ◽  
Rita Verbicaro
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Patient Engagement ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Comparative Assessment ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Conceptual Frame ◽  
Care Processes

Modern telemedicine offers to hospitals a whole range of opportunities to improve the appropriateness of their care provision, to offer new services to primary care and to contribute to patient engagement. In this chapter, the authors briefly discuss their approach to facilitate the collaborative production of region-wide telemedicine roadmaps involving the hospitals, explicitly based on national and regional healthcare strategic priorities. In addition, as an operational contribution to support their approach, they introduce a conceptual frame for evaluating and prioritizing multiple ICT-enhanced innovation interventions, within an all-inclusive plan. The proposed frame captures relevant evaluation criteria belonging to four broad categories: the systemic benefits related to the quality of care; direct economic factors; the cultural viability; and the technological feasibility. As an example, the authors simulate an application of our conceptual frame to the comparative assessment of three kinds of telemedicine-enhanced interventions: (i) to improve the care processes driven by the hospital, (ii) to support health professionals, and (iii) to promote citizen’s engagement.

Examination of Quality of Life in Workplace Environments

2022 ◽  
pp. 1161-1174
Author(s):  
Lesley Clack
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Increased Risk

Healthcare organizations are commonly known to be high-stress environments due to the life-or-death nature of the work. Thus, examining the quality of life in healthcare professionals is of significance to the field. Quality of life is a common measurement in healthcare, typically in determining the effectiveness of treatment on patients. But, quality of life in healthcare workers is often overlooked. A review of the literature was conducted regarding factors that impact quality of life of workers in healthcare environments. The areas of occupational stress, burnout, and workplace violence were explored in depth in order to understand the potential negative consequences of each on quality of life in healthcare professionals. In comparison to other industries, healthcare professionals are at an increased risk for occupational stress, burnout, and workplace violence. Effectively managing these areas could have a positive impact on quality of life in healthcare workers.

scholarly journals Beyond coverage: a qualitative study exploring the perceived impact of Gabon’s health insurance plan on access to and quality of prenatal care

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N’doh Ashken Sanogo ◽  
Arone Wondwossen Fantaye ◽  
Sanni Yaya
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Compulsory Health Insurance

Abstract Background Access to affordable and adequate healthcare in a health system determines the universal health coverage achievement for all residents in a country. Achieving access to healthcare requires the availability of a financing system that ensures access to and provision of adequate care, regardless of the ability to pay. In sub-Saharan Africa, accessibility, use and coverage of prenatal visits are very low and poor, which reduces the quality of care. This paper explored the impact of a social health insurance scheme on the quality of antenatal care in Gabon. Methods This qualitative study involved the analysis of data collected from semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations to assess the quality of antenatal care. The study elicited perceptions on the demand side (pregnant women) and the supply side (health professionals) in health facilities. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with pregnant women (aged between 15 and 49) and 5 with health professionals, who each had a seniority of at least 10 years, at different levels of care. Nine non-participant observations were also conducted. Coded transcripts were reviewed and analyzed using the Canadian Institute for Public Administration of Citizen-Centered Services model as an analytical guide. Results On the demand side, women were generally satisfied with the prenatal services they receive in health facilities. However, complaints were made about the rudeness of some nurses, the high price of the delivery kit (50,000 XAF), and the fact that some essential medicines for maternity are not covered. On the supply side, participants agreed that compulsory health insurance is important in providing antenatal care access to those who need it the most. However, some problems remain. The participants outlined some logistical problems and a lack of medical equipment, including the stock of drugs, disinfectants, and the absence of clean water. Conclusion Understanding the perceptions of pregnant women and health professionals regarding the quality of antenatal care can help to inform refinements to methods through which the services can be better provided. In addition, the study findings are vital to increasing the use of care, as well as combating high maternal mortality rates. Compulsory health insurance has improved the accessibility and utilization of healthcare services and has contributed to improved quality of care.

scholarly journals 3200 Balancing Cost and Quality of Care in the US and Denmark: Lessons for Nations Transitioning from Volume-Based to Value-Based Care

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
pp. 140-140
Author(s):  
Negin Fouladi ◽  
Margit Malmmose
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Regulatory Oversight ◽  
Physician Practices ◽  
The Us

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Promote knowledge translation and evidence-informed decision-making by assessing barriers and facilitators to balancing cost and quality of care within the US state of Maryland and nation of Denmark. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Open-ended and semi-structured key-informant interviews were conducted in 2016 and 2017 among high level decision-makers in Maryland (N=21) and the Danish (N=17) healthcare systems, including hospital, local, regional, and cross-organizational administrators and elected officials. The interviews consisted of questions related to: (1) currently practiced and preferred approaches to resource allocation and development and use of quality performance measures, and (2) preferred sources, formats/styles, modes of information, and decision-making strategies based on a shift from volume to quality-driven care. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Decision-makers in Maryland expressed the need for collaboration in a changing environment, yet increasingly rely on cost and quality outcomes data to drive decisions and note the struggle to identify credible and useful information. Maryland decision-makers also face challenges in regulating utilization and costs without mandated participation of physician practices within the global budget cap model, which is perceived to be a primary driver of healthcare utilization in the hospital sector. Similarly, decision-makers in Denmark conveyed the importance of quantitative data to aid decisions, however, stress collaboration and dialogue as driving factors and important sources of information. Danish decision-makers also express challenges to wide-spread adoption of a quality-driven approach due to unsustained quality assurance regulatory bodies. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The findings suggest implementation of value-based healthcare is highly driven and influenced by availability of credible data, which may significantly impact development of policies and innovative cost control strategies, and regulatory oversight to promote adoption of quality measures in decision-making. Furthermore, collaboration within and across healthcare organizations remains a key component to health system improvement as it fosters dialogue and sharing of best practices among stakeholders.

Designing, implementing and evaluating an educational intervention targeting weight bias and fat stereotyping

2020 ◽  
pp. 135910531990131
Author(s):  
Thea Werkhoven
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Weight Bias ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Or Education

Weight bias directed at individuals at a higher weight leaves them feeling victimised and judged. When possessed by health professionals, stigmatising attitudes may compromise professionalism and quality of care or education provided. An intervention study was conducted in the higher education setting ( n = 124), through tailored course design and delivery. The intervention was embedded into a health elective that pre-service health professionals were enrolled in. Attitudes to weight and knowledge of nutrition were targeted simultaneously. Surveys conducted pre- and post-intervention revealed moderate success in achieving study aims of improving nutrition knowledge and decreasing bias. Focus group analyses supported the quantitative findings.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document