scholarly journals Factors reducing inappropriate attendances to emergency departments before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicentre study

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 818-826
Author(s):  
Lenard Cheng ◽  
Wei Ming Ng ◽  
Ziwei Lin ◽  
Lawrence Siu-Chun Law ◽  
Lorraine Yong ◽  
...  

Introduction: Inappropriate attendances (IAs) to emergency departments (ED) create an unnecessary strain on healthcare systems. With decreased ED attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study postulates that there are less IAs compared to before the pandemic and identifies factors associated with IAs. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 29,267 patient presentations to a healthcare cluster in Singapore from 7 April 2020 to 1 June 2020, and 36,370 patients within a corresponding period in 2019. This time frame coincided with local COVID-19 lockdown measures. IAs were defined as patient presentations with no investigations required, with patients eventually discharged from the ED. IAs in the 2020 period during the pandemic were compared with 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with IAs. Results: There was a decrease in daily IAs in 2020 compared to 2019 (9.91±3.06 versus 24.96±5.92, P<0.001). IAs were more likely with self-referrals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50–1.66) and walk-ins (aOR 4.96, 95% CI 4.59–5.36), and those diagnosed with non-specific headache (aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.85–2.34), or non-specific low back pain (aOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15–1.42). IAs were less likely in 2020 compared to 2019 (aOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.65–0.71) and older patients (aOR 0.79 each 10 years, 95% CI 0.78–0.80). Conclusion: ED IAs decreased during COVID-19. The pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to examine factors associated with IAs. Keywords: COVID-19, emergency department, inappropriate attendance, utilisation

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edson Theodoro dos S. Neto ◽  
Eliana Zandonade ◽  
Adauto Oliveira Emmerich

OBJECTIVE To analyze the factors associated with breastfeeding duration by two statistical models. METHODS A population-based cohort study was conducted with 86 mothers and newborns from two areas primary covered by the National Health System, with high rates of infant mortality in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. During 30 months, 67 (78%) children and mothers were visited seven times at home by trained interviewers, who filled out survey forms. Data on food and sucking habits, socioeconomic and maternal characteristics were collected. Variables were analyzed by Cox regression models, considering duration of breastfeeding as the dependent variable, and logistic regression (dependent variables, was the presence of a breastfeeding child in different post-natal ages). RESULTS In the logistic regression model, the pacifier sucking (adjusted Odds Ratio: 3.4; 95%CI 1.2-9.55) and bottle feeding (adjusted Odds Ratio: 4.4; 95%CI 1.6-12.1) increased the chance of weaning a child before one year of age. Variables associated to breastfeeding duration in the Cox regression model were: pacifier sucking (adjusted Hazard Ratio 2.0; 95%CI 1.2-3.3) and bottle feeding (adjusted Hazard Ratio 2.0; 95%CI 1.2-3.5). However, protective factors (maternal age and family income) differed between both models. CONCLUSIONS Risk and protective factors associated with cessation of breastfeeding may be analyzed by different models of statistical regression. Cox Regression Models are adequate to analyze such factors in longitudinal studies.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245528
Author(s):  
Almaz Tefera Gonete ◽  
Bogale Kassahun ◽  
Eskedar Getie Mekonnen ◽  
Wubet Worku Takele

Background Stunting at birth is a chronic form of undernutrition majorly attributable to poor prenatal nutrition, which could persist in children’s later life and impact their physical and cognitive health. Although multiple studies have been conducted in Ethiopia to show the magnitude of stunting and factors, all are concentrated on children aged between 6 to 59 months. Therefore, this study was done to determine the prevalence and associated factors of stunting at birth among newborns delivered at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 26th to April 25th/2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used, to select a total of 422 newborn-mother pairs. The binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with stunting and all independent variables were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model to adjust for confounders. Variables that had significant association were identified based on p-value < 0.05 and the adjusted odds ratio with its respective 95% confidence interval was applied to determine the strength as well as the direction of the association. Results About 30.5% (95% CI: 26.3%, 35.1%) of newborns were stunted at birth. Being male [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.9(1.62, 5.21)], newborns conceived in Kiremt(rainy season) [AOR = 2.7(1.49, 4.97)], being low birth weight [AOR = 3.1(1.64, 6.06)] were factors associated with stunting at birth. Likewise, newborns born to short stature mothers [AOR = 2.8(1.21, 6.62)] and chronically malnourished mothers [AOR = 15.3(8.12, 29.1)] were at greater risk of being stunted. Conclusion Just under a third of newborns are stunted at birth, implying a pressing public health problem. Newborns born to chronically malnourished and short stature mothers were more stunted. Besides, stunting was prevalently observed among male neonates, newborns conceived in Kiremet, and being low birth weight. Thus, policymakers and nutrition programmers should work on preventing maternal undernutrition through nutrition education to reduce the burden of low birth weight and stunting. Further, paying due attention to newborns conceived in Kiremet season to improve nutritional status is recommended.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Sumner ◽  
Daniel A. Bowen ◽  
Brad Bartholow

Abstract. Background: The dissemination of positive messages about mental health is a key goal of organizations and individuals. Aims: Our aim was to examine factors that predict increased dissemination of such messages. Method: We analyzed 10,998 positive messages authored on Twitter and studied factors associated with messages that are shared (re-tweeted) using logistic regression. Characteristics of the account, message, linguistic style, sentiment, and topic were examined. Results: Less than one third of positive messages (31.7%) were shared at least once. In adjusted models, accounts that posted a greater number of messages were less likely to have any single message shared. Messages about military-related topics were 60% more likely to be shared (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.6, 95% CI [1.1, 2.1]) as well as messages containing achievement-related keywords (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI [1.3, 1.9]). Conversely, positive messages explicitly addressing eating/food, appearance, and sad affective states were less likely to be shared. Multiple other message characteristics influenced sharing. Limitations: Only messages on a single platform and over a focused period of time were analyzed. Conclusion: A knowledge of factors affecting dissemination of positive mental health messages may aid organizations and individuals seeking to promote such messages online.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Poom Chompoosri ◽  
Thatsani Kunchanaphongphan

Aim: Our objective is to determine factors associated with prolonged psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission at Somdet Chaophraya Institute of Psychiatry (SCIP).<br/> Method: We reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to the PICU between 1 July 2016 and 31 December 2016 meeting PICU admission criteria. We defined prolonged admission as PICU clinical stay of longer than five days. We then performed univariate binary logistic regression analysis to analyse the association between factors and prolonged PICU admission. Factors with p-value <0.25 were then included in backward stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis.<br/> Results: We included 293 cases then excluded 42 of them using our exclusion criteria (30 were discharged by other means and 12 cases were due to inability to obtain essential information). Of 251 studied cases, 112 cases (44.6%) had prolonged PICU admission. Univariate logistic regression analysis found that a history of prior PICU admission, compulsory admission, treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and primary diagnosis were associated with prolonged PICU admission with p-value <0.25. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, factors associated with prolonged PICU admission were: compulsory admission (adjusted odds ratio 2.45, 95% CI 1.06–5.69 when adjusted with treatment with ECT) and treatment with ECT during PICU admission (adjusted odds ratio 9.01, 95% CI 2.57–31.59 when adjusted with compulsory admission).<br/> Conclusions: Factors associated with prolonged PICU admission at SCIP were compulsory admission and treatment with ECT during PICU admission. We propose that further study of these two groups should provide clues on how to improve treatment in PICU.


Author(s):  
Daiki Sakai ◽  
Wataru Matsumiya ◽  
Sentaro Kusuhara ◽  
Makoto Nakamura

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the factors associated with the development of ocular candidiasis (OC) and ocular prognosis with echinocandin therapy for candidemia. Methods The medical records of 56 consecutive patients with a positive blood culture for Candida species between November 2016 and October 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Information on patient characteristics, isolated Candida species, treatment details for candidemia, and ocular findings were extracted to identify factors associated with OC development. Results The leading pathogen of candidemia was Candida albicans (C.albicans) (41.1%). Of 56 patients, 18 (32.1%) were diagnosed with chorioretinitis, categorized as either probable (8 patients) or possible OC (10 patients). There was no case of endophthalmitis with vitritis. The incidence of probable OC was not significantly different between the groups treated with echinocandins and other antifungal drugs (15.2% vs. 11.1%, p = 1.00). In all probable OC cases, systemic antifungal therapy was switched from echinocandins to azoles, and no case progressed to endophthalmitis. A multivariate logistic analysis revealed that female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 8.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–72.9) and C. albicans (aOR, 23.6; 95% CI, 1.8–281) were independent factors associated with the development of probable OC. Conclusion One-seventh of patients with candidemia developed probable OC. Given the evidence of female and C. albicans as the factors associated with OC development, careful ophthalmologic management is required with these factors, especially in candidemia. Although echinocandins had no correlation with OC development and did not lead to the deterioration of ocular prognosis, further investigation is required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amare Muche ◽  
Reta Dewau

Abstract Background In Ethiopia, stunting is the most common form of undernutriton. Identifying the determinants of severe stunting among children is crucial for public health interventions to improve child health. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants of severe stunting among under-five children in Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A two stage stratified cluster sampling technique was used. A multilevel ordinal logistic regression model was fitted to identify independent determinants. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and median odds ratio (MOR) with its 95% confidence interval at p-value< 0.05 were used to declare statistical significance. Results The result of this study showed that about 18% of the children were severely stunted. Being male increased the severity of stunting in children by 26% adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.26 (95% CI: 1.09–1.46), compared to female sex; over-weight mothers increased the severity of stunting in their children AOR: 3.43 (95% CI: 2.21–5.33) compared to normal BMI mothers; and children from middle, poorer, and poorest wealth index households were 1.84 (95% CI:1.27–2.67), 2.13 (95% CI, CI:1.45–3.14) and 2.52 (95% CI,1.72–3.68). In contrast, severe stunting was reduced by 62% (AOR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.20–0.74) and 48% (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.37–0.72) in children of educated mothers compared to children of uneducated mothers and children of underweight mothers compared with those children of normal BMI mothers respectively. For each one-unit increase in maternal height, there is a 5% significant reduction in the child’s odds of being severely stunted. After controlling for other factors, the effect of predictors on the likelihood of stunting in high risk clusters increased by a median odds ratio (MOR) of 1.83 (95% CI: 1.69–2.00). Conclusions The magnitude of severe childhood stunting was still high with regional variation in Ethiopia. Child age, sex, maternal height, age, education and household wealth index as well as administrative regions were significantly associated factors with severe stunting. Significant interventions shall be implemented at the individual, household and community levels in order to reduce the problem.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 205031212097800
Author(s):  
Damtew Asrat ◽  
Atsede Alle ◽  
Bekalu Kebede ◽  
Bekalu Dessie

Background: Over the last 100 years, the development and mass production of chemically synthesized drugs have revolutionized health care in most parts of the world. However, large sections of the population in developing countries still depend on traditional medicines for their primary health care needs. More than 88% of Ethiopian parents use different forms of traditional medicine for their children. Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors associated with parental traditional medicine use for children in Fagita Lekoma Woreda. Method: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 30 March 2019 in Fagita Lekoma Woreda. Data collection tool was a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the data. Odds ratio and binary and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to measure the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Results: Among 858 participants, 71% of parents had used traditional medicine for their children within the last 12 months. Parents who cannot read and write (adjusted odds ratio = 6.42, 95% confidence interval = 2.1–19.7), parents with low monthly income (adjusted odds ratio = 4.38, 95% confidence interval = 1.58–12.1), and those who had accesses to traditional medicine (adjusted odds ratio = 2.21, 95% confidence interval = 1.23–3.98) were more likely to use traditional medicine for their children. Urban residents (adjusted odds ratio = 0.20, 95% confidence interval = 0.11–0.38) and members of community-based health insurance (adjusted odds ratio = 0.421, 95% confidence interval = 0.211–0.84) were less likely to use traditional medicine for their children. Conclusions: Our study revealed that the prevalence of traditional medicine remains high. Educational status, monthly income, residence, accessibility to traditional medicine, and being a member of community-based health insurance were predictors of potential traditional medicine use. Therefore, the integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine should be strengthened. Community education and further study on efficacy and safety of traditional medicines should be also given great attention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1545-1550
Author(s):  
F. Talebian ◽  
T. Yaghoubi ◽  
R. Marzband

Introduction: Moral distress is one of the prevalent problems of nursing which causes stress, that leads to nurses being unable to show a proper moral function in the critical situations. Moreover, due to the stressful conditions in emergency department, caring behaviors of nurses is of great importance. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with moral distress and caring behaviors of nurses working in emergency departments in educational-medical centers of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences during COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This study was descriptive-analytical which was conducted through stratified and convenience sampling, and by participation of 188 nurses working in emergency departments in 5 educational-medical centers of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Data was collected through standard three-section questionnaire of demographic information, Corley moral distress and Wolf caring behaviors of nurses, and its validity and reliability was confirmed. Data was analyzed by using descriptive (mean and standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and analytical statistics (Mann–Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation coefficient). Finding: Moral distress mean score of nurses working in emergency was 20/97±101/60 and they had 92/4% of average moral distress. Caring behavior of nurses was 8/62±101/60. Gender and marital status variables had a significant relation with caring behavior, in a way that male nurses and married nurses had a lower score (p<0.05). the relation between moral distress and caring behavior was NOT statistically significant. Final conclusion: Nursing staff must have a good command of their caring behavior so that caring will be presented in high quality, and patients and help-seekers’ satisfaction who come to the emergency, especially in COVID-19 pandemic, will be met. Thus, it is necessary that health and medical system managers provide educational programs to draw nurses’ attention to their caring behavior dimensions, especially in emergency departments. Key words: moral distress, caring behavior, emergency department nurse, COVID-19 pandemic


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Arvand Barghi ◽  
Robert Balshaw ◽  
Emily Rimmer ◽  
Murdoch Leeies ◽  
Allan Garland ◽  
...  

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are often used to treat patients with iron deficiency who present to the emergency department (ED) with symptomatic anemia. Intravenous (IV) iron is the preferred treatment in this setting, as it has been shown to increase hemoglobin concentration rapidly and durably. We aim to determine the incidence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and the management of these patients in the ED setting. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of IDA, the frequency of RBC transfusion and iron supplementation, and factors associated with RBC transfusion. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of all adult patients presenting to the St Boniface Hospital (Winnipeg, CAN) ED from January 2014 to January 2019. Methods: We used electronic data from the Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) and Laboratory Information Services (LIS) databases to identify patients presenting with IDA, defined as anemia (hemoglobin &lt;120 g/L) with either a transferrin saturation less than 20% or ferritin less than 30 umol/L, or mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of &lt; 75 fL. A ferritin greater than 100 umol was used to exclude IDA, regardless of MCV. We extracted patient demographics, diagnoses, markers of iron storage, RBC transfusion and use of IV iron. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with RBC transfusion. Results: Of 39222 patients, 17945 (45%) were anemic. Of the anemic patients, iron parameters were ordered in 1848 (10.3%) patients, and IDA was present in 910 (5.1 %). In the IDA population, 95 patients (10.4 %) received 1 RBC unit, and 197 patients (21.6 %) received 2 or more units. Oral iron and IV iron were prescribed for 64 (7 %) and 14 (1.5 %) patients, respectively. Our logistic regression model demonstrated that hemoglobin concentration was the main determinant of whether patients received RBC transfusion. Other variables including patient age, cardiac symptoms, heart rate, blood pressure, and CTAS score were not associated with increased likelihood of receiving RBC transfusion. Conclusion: Iron parameters were infrequently ordered in the evaluation of anemia in the ED, with limited use of oral and IV iron. The decision to transfuse RBCs was primarily influenced by hemoglobin concentration, but not other surrogates of hemodynamic instability. An interventional study to improve education and access to oral and IV iron is planned to reduce unnecessary RBC transfusions and their associated risks in patients with IDA. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikwo K. Oboho ◽  
Anna Bramley ◽  
Lyn Finelli ◽  
Alicia Fry ◽  
Krow Ampofo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Data on oseltamivir treatment among hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients are limited. Methods Patients hospitalized with CAP at 6 hospitals during the 2010−2012 influenza seasons were included. We assessed factors associated with oseltamivir treatment using logistic regression. Results Oseltamivir treatment was provided to 89 of 1627 (5%) children (&lt;18 years) and 143 of 1051 (14%) adults. Among those with positive clinician-ordered influenza tests, 39 of 61 (64%) children and 37 of 48 (77%) adults received oseltamivir. Among children, oseltamivir treatment was associated with hospital A (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36−4.88), clinician-ordered testing performed (aOR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.47−5.19), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (aOR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.27−3.45), and age ≥2 years (aOR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.16−1.76). Among adults, oseltamivir treatment was associated with clinician-ordered testing performed (aOR, 8.38; 95% CI, 4.64−15.12), hospitals D and E (aOR, 3.46−5.11; 95% CI, 1.75−11.01), Hispanic ethnicity (aOR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.18−3.59), and ICU admission (aOR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.34−3.13). Conclusions Among patients hospitalized with CAP during influenza season, oseltamivir treatment was moderate overall and associated with clinician-ordered testing, severe illness, and specific hospitals. Increased clinician education is needed to include influenza in the differential diagnosis for hospitalized CAP patients and to test and treat patients empirically if influenza is suspected.


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