scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on the Utilization of Dental Services: A Systematic Review

Author(s):  
Manal Adnan Barry ◽  
Shahad Abdullah Aldawsari ◽  
Seham Muslih Alrashidi ◽  
Rami Mohammed A. Alshehri ◽  
Badr S. Alhussain ◽  
...  

Emergency Department (ED) visits result from urgent conditions and instances caused by disease, disaster, accidents, or injury and require immediate medical attention. Today, emergency dental services are becoming an integral and crucial facet of properly functioning healthcare systems. Dental emergency visits are a risky undertaking when the COVID-19 epidemic is decimating global health systems. Emergencies in dental care are possibly life-threatening occurrences and demand instant attention to curb infection, severe pain, and tissue bleeding. Examples of these conditions include trauma affecting different facial bones, bacterial infection on soft tissues or cellulitis, and uncontrolled bleeding. Today, given the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, all providers need to use their professional judgment to determine the need for emergency or urgent care for a patient. Consequently, this systematic review of literature reviews the implications of the COVID-19 epidemic on the use of dental services in different care facilities across the nation.

2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. e1-e7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie F. Reda ◽  
Seif M. Reda ◽  
W. Murray Thomson ◽  
Falk Schwendicke

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6615-6615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tannaz Sedghi ◽  
Maureen Canavan ◽  
Cary Philip Gross ◽  
Amy J. Davidoff ◽  
Bonnie Elyssa Gould Rothberg ◽  
...  

6615 Background: Oncology-specific urgent care clinics (UCC) may play a key role in reducing unscheduled emergency department (ED) visits among patients with cancer. We sought to determine if establishment of an Oncology UCC was associated with lower ED utilization among patients receiving cancer care at Yale’s Smilow Cancer Hospital (SCH) and two nearby, integrated community practices. Methods: SCH opened its UCC in April 2017 to provide supportive care and symptom management for patients with cancer who need acute medical attention outside of regular clinic visits. We identified patients who had at least one visit with an oncology provider during the Pre-UCC period (9/1/16 – 12/31/16) or Post-UCC period (9/1/17 – 12/31/17) and received chemotherapy within a year preceding their provider visit. For each patient, we captured all ED visits in a four-month window starting from their last provider visit in each study period. The ED visit rate for both periods was defined as the total number of ED visits divided by the total number of unique patients in the period. To determine the impact of the UCC on ED utilization, we evaluated the absolute difference in the ED visit rate between the Pre- and Post-UCC period using a two-sample t test. Results: There were 3,754 patients in the Pre-UCC period and 4,734 patients in the Post-UCC period. In the full study sample, the mean age was 62.9 and most common cancer types were Hematologic, Gastrointestinal, and Breast. Prior to opening the UCC, the ED visit rate was 0.27 per unique patient. After opening the UCC, we found a 13.9% relative decrease in the overall ED visit rate from 0.27 to 0.23 (p = 0.02). The SCH patient ED visit rate declined by 12.5% (p = 0.03) and the community practice rate declined by 37.1%; however, the latter decline was not statistically significant, potentially due to a small sample size (p = 0.19). Conclusions: Our study found a decrease in the ED visit rate after the opening of an Oncology UCC. An urgent care strategy for cancer centers may serve as an efficient way to manage patients while minimizing ED use. [Table: see text]


Author(s):  
Bamedhaf O ◽  
Almashhadani SS

Aim: To assess how COVID-19 effected the patients’ utilization of dental services and how the pandemic will change dental care services.


Author(s):  
Daisy Fancourt

Emergency medicine involves the care of patients who require immediate medical attention. The specialty encompasses a broad range of medical disciplines, including anaesthesia, cardiology (a field related to the heart), neurology (a field related to the brain), plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery (surgery relating to the bones or muscles), and cardiothoracic surgery (surgery relating to the heart, chest, or lungs). There are also a number of subspecialties including extreme environment medicine, disaster medicine and sports medicine. Related to emergency medicine is the specialty of critical care medicine, which is concerned with the care of patients with life-threatening conditions often treated in intensive care settings....


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e040272
Author(s):  
Catherine Laferté ◽  
Andréa Dépelteau ◽  
Catherine Hudon

ObjectiveTo review all studies having examined the association between patients with physical injuries and frequent emergency department (ED) attendance or return visits.DesignSystematic review.Data sourceMedline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO databases were searched up to and including July 2019.Eligibility criteriaEnglish and French language publications reporting on frequent use of ED services (frequent attendance and return visits), evaluating injured patients and using regression analysis.Data extraction and synthesisTwo independent reviewers screened the search results, and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for prevalence studies. Results were collated and summarised using a narrative synthesis. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the repercussions of removing a study that did not meet the quality criteria.ResultsOf the 2184 studies yielded by this search, 1957 remained after the removal of duplicates. Seventy-eight studies underwent full-text screening leaving nine that met the eligibility criteria and were included in this study: five retrospective cohort studies; two prospective cohort studies; one cross-sectional study; and one case-control study. Different types of injuries were represented, including fractures, trauma and physical injuries related to falls, domestic violence or accidents. Sample sizes ranged from 200 to 1 259 809. Six studies included a geriatric population while three addressed a younger population. Of the four studies evaluating the relationship between injuries and frequent ED use, three reported an association. Additionally, of the five studies in which the dependent variable was return ED visits, three articles identified a positive association with injuries.ConclusionsPhysical injuries appear to be associated with frequent use of ED services (frequent ED attendance as well as return ED visits). Further research into factors including relevant youth-related covariates such as substance abuse and different types of traumas should be undertaken to bridge the gap in understanding this association.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Van den Bosch ◽  
C. M. Wiepjes ◽  
M. Den Heijer ◽  
L. J. Schoonmade ◽  
R. E. G. Jonkman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Gender-affirming hormone (GAH) therapy aims to support the transition of transgender people to their gender identity. GAHs can induce changes in their secondary sex characteristics such as the development of breasts in transgender females and increased muscle mass in transgender males. The face and its surrounding tissues also have an important role in gender confirmation. The aim of this scoping review is to systematically map the available evidence in order to provide an overview of the effects of GAH therapy on the hard and soft tissues of the craniofacial complex in transgender people. Methods/design The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews was consulted for reporting this protocol. The methods were based on the Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the Reviewer’s Manual of the Joanna Briggs Institute for conducting scoping reviews. Ten transgender people were involved in the development of the primary research question through short interviews. The eligibility criteria were defined for transgender people undergoing GAH therapy and for quantitative and qualitative outcomes on the hard and soft tissues of the craniofacial complex. Eligible sources of evidence include observational, experimental, qualitative, and mixed method studies. No exclusion criteria will be applied for the language of publication and the setting. To identify eligible sources of evidence, we will conduct searches from inception onwards in PubMed, Embase.com, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, CINAHL, LIVIVO, and various grey literature sources such as Google Scholar. Two reviewers will independently select eligible studies in these information sources and will subsequently conduct data extraction. The same operators will chart, categorize, and summarize the extracted data. A narrative summary of findings will be conducted. Frequency counts of quantitative and qualitative data on items such as concepts, populations, interventions, and other characteristics of the eligible sources will be given. Where possible, these items will be mapped descriptively. Discussion We chose the scoping review over the systematic review approach, because the research questions are broad-spectrum and the literature is expected to be widely scattered. No systematic review has previously assessed this topic. Identifying knowledge gaps in this area and summarizing and disseminating research findings are important for a wide spectrum of stakeholders, in particular, for transgender people who want to undergo additional interventions such as plastic or orthognathic surgery or orthodontics. Systematic review registration This protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/e3qj6


Author(s):  
Ina Nitschke ◽  
Sebastian Hahnel ◽  
Julia Jockusch

The aim is to analyze protective and modifying factors (e.g., vulnerability, resilience, sense of coherence) in relation to the utilization of dental services by seniors at different levels of the healthcare system. Terminological imprecision in the use and transfer of existing terms (sense of coherence, resilience, salutogenesis) to gerodontology is clarified. Factors influencing a reduced utilization (static/dynamic factors) can occur isolated or in combination and, thus, model the risk of a reduced utilization of dental services (influencing-factor mechanism). Protective factors of utilization include patient-specific factors for self-motivation and factors that promote oral-health-related resilience. Resistance forces that counteract can be identified as oral-health-related resilience factors. Achieving social and individual appreciation and establishing a prevention-oriented approach to utilization will be increasingly challenging, since the population is becoming older and access is not equal in terms of opportunity. Resistance forces need to be strengthened in an ethical context. Studies should increasingly present resilience processes, determinants and modes of action at the various interfaces in the healthcare system, which can ensure sustainable medical care in old age. The concepts conveyed here are generally valid and able to point out inequalities and ageism in access to dental services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 174550652110137
Author(s):  
Flavia Zalwango ◽  
Janet Seeley ◽  
Arthur Namara ◽  
Sanjay Kinra ◽  
Moffat Nyirenda ◽  
...  

Objectives: In Uganda, as in many other low- and middle-income countries, screening for gestational diabetes mellitus is suboptimal and is rarely embedded in routine antenatal care. We describe the experiences of women in Uganda who underwent screening for gestational diabetes mellitus and were diagnosed with the condition as they navigate both the reaction of family members and their interaction with health workers. Methods: Pregnant women aged 18 years or older and between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation were enrolled from the antenatal clinics at one of the five hospitals between 13 June 2018 and 31 October 2019. Ten women with gestational diabetes mellitus, ten family members and six health workers were purposively selected to take part. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data on the socio-cultural and health system factors that influence timely screening and effective management of gestational diabetes mellitus in Uganda. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Women generally reflected on the importance of gestational diabetes mellitus screening and felt that an early diagnosis helped them to get timely medical attention, and most reported a positive experience of the care provided by health workers. However, women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus reported feeling fearful and anxious, and some were worried that the condition might be life-threatening. Many women reported that they were upset and largely unprepared to receive a gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis. A gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis not only stirred intense feelings of fear and anxiety in women but also affected their spouses and other family members. Many male partners were sympathetic and willing to provide support. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need to understand the perceptions and emotions that accompany a gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis to best support women and their family members. An improved recognition of these factors can inform the development of effective gestational diabetes mellitus screening and management programmes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanashree Sexton ◽  
Jeremy Dale ◽  
Helen Atherton

Abstract Background Telephone-based digital triage is widely used by services that provide urgent care. This involves a call handler or clinician using a digital triage tool to generate algorithm-based care advice, based on a patient’s symptoms. Advice typically takes the form of signposting within defined levels of urgency to specific services or self-care advice. Despite wide adoption, there is limited evaluation of its impact on service user experience, service use and clinical outcomes; no previous systematic reviews have focussed on services that utilise digital triage, and its impact on these outcome areas within urgent care. This review aims to address this need, particularly now that telephone-based digital triage is well established in healthcare delivery. Methods Studies assessing the impact of telephone-based digital triage on service user experience, health care service use and clinical outcomes will be identified through searches conducted in Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science and Scopus. Search terms using words relating to digital triage and urgent care settings (excluding in-hours general practice) will be used. The review will include all original study types including qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies; studies published in the last 20 years and studies published in English. Quality assessment of studies will be conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT); a narrative synthesis approach will be used to analyse and summarise findings. Discussion This is the first systematic review to evaluate service user experience, service use and clinical outcomes related to the use of telephone-based digital triage in urgent care settings. It will evaluate evidence from studies of wide-ranging designs. The narrative synthesis approach will enable the integration of findings to provide new insights on service delivery. Models of urgent care continue to evolve rapidly, with the emergence of self-triage tools and national help lines. Findings from this review will be presented in a practical format that can feed into the design of digital triage tools, future service design and healthcare policy. Systematic review registration This systematic review is registered on the international database of prospectively registered systematic reviews in health and social care (PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020178500).


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