Implementasi Sistem Rujukan Layanan Kesehatan: Systematic Literature Review

The Health Care Referral System is a service system that controls the delegation of authority and responsibility for health problems which is carried out reciprocally vertically or horizontally, in the sense of a unit with less capability to a more capable unit. The purpose of this study was to determine the implementation of the health service referral system in terms of regulations, health personnel resources and infrastructure. This research is a systematic review (Systematic Literature Review). The data synthesis process was carried out by comparing 15 literatures that met the quality assessment as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria with the database sources used, namely, Google Scholar, Pubmed, ScienceDirect. The data is processed and presented in tabulated form. The results showed that several countries such as Indonesia, Iran, Northern Tanzania, Riyadh, Ghana, Zambia and Hoduras from the articles reviewed used a referral system starting from the basic level (Primary), secondary level (Secondary) and tertiary level (Tertiary). Judging from the three aspects of the implementation of the health service referral system reviewed, it shows that there are problems in its implementation, including; the regulatory aspect found only 2 literatures that discussed regulations in the implementation of the referral system, the aspect of health personnel resources was found to be unavailability of health workers in health services causing patient referral and infrastructure aspects found obstacles in inadequate infrastructure resulting in referral.Keywords: implementation, referral system, health care AbstrakSistem Rujukan Pelayanan Kesehatan merupakan sistem pelayanan yang mengendalikan pelimpahan wewenang serta tanggung jawab atas permasalahan kesehatan yang dilakukan secara timbal balik secara vertikal ataupun horizontal, dalam makna dari unit yang berkemampuan kurang ke unit yang lebih, terjangkau dan rasional. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui implementasi sistem rujukan layanan kesehatan dilihat dari aspek regulasi, sumber daya tenaga kesehatan dan sarana prasarana. Penelitian ini merupakan tinjauan sistematis (Systematic Literature Review). Proses data sintesis dalam penelitian ini dilakukan dengan cara membandingkan 15 literature yang memenuhi penilaian kualitas serta kriteria inklusi dan ekslusi dengan sumber database yang digunakan yaitu, Google Scholar, Pubmed, ScienceDirect. Data diolah dan disajikan dalam bentuk tabulasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukan beberapa negara seperti Indonesia, Iran, Tanzania Utara, Riyadh, Ghana, Zambia dan Hoduras dari artikel yang direview menggunakan sistem rujukan yang dimulai dari tingkat dasar (Primary), tingkat menengah (Secondary) dan tingkat tersier (Tertiary). Dilihat dari ketiga aspek implementasi sistem rujukan layanan kesehatan yang direview menunjukkan adanya permasalahan dalam pengimplementasiannya diantaranya; aspek regulasi ditemukan hanya 2 literature yang membahas regulasi dalam pengimplementasian sistem rujukan, aspek sumber daya tenaga kesehatan ditemukannya ketidaktersediaan tenaga kesehatan di layanan kesehatan sehingga menyebabkan terjadinya rujukan pasien dan aspek sarana prasarana ditemukannya hambatan pada infrastruktur yang tidak memadai sehingga menyebabkan terjadinya rujukanKata Kunci: implementasi, sistem rujukan, layanan kesehatan

Providing Support to Victims: Police Officers’ Service Referral Provision and Advocate Involvement in Domestic Violence Incidents

Limited research has investigated police service provision and advocate involvement in domestic violence (DV) incidents. This study used a stratified random sample of 368 cases from an urban police department to assess police officers’ decisions to provide service provision and to involve an advocate in formally-reported DV incidents. Multivariate binary logistic regression models revealed decreased suspect age and presence of physical abuse significantly increased service referral. Advocate involvement significantly decreased when the victim and suspect were married, when the suspect used alcohol and/or drugs, and when there was physical evidence present in the case. Alternatively, suspect weapon use, victim injury, and service referral by police increased later advocate involvement. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Severe obesity in a specialist type 2 diabetes outpatient clinic: an Australian retrospective cohort study

Background Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its complications. Significant weight loss has been shown to improve glycaemia in people with T2DM and obesity. National and international guidelines recommend considering bariatric surgery for body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2. We assessed the proportion of people with T2DM meeting criteria for surgery, how many had been offered a bariatric/obesity service referral, and compared the characteristics of people with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 and BMI < 35 kg/m2. Methods Retrospective data were collected for all people with T2DM aged ≥18 years, attending a hospital specialist diabetes outpatient service over three calendar years, 2017–2019. Results Of 700 people seen in the service, 291 (42%) had BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 (the “BMI ≥ 35 group”) and met criteria for bariatric surgery, but only 54 (19%) of them were offered referral to an obesity service. The BMI ≥ 35 group was younger than those with a BMI < 35 kg/m2 (56.1 ± 14.8 vs 61.4 ± 14.6 years, p < 0.001) (mean ± SD), with similar diabetes duration (11.0 ± 9.0 vs 12.3 ± 8.9 years, p = 0.078), and there was no significant difference in initial HbA1c (75 ± 27 vs 72 ± 26 mmol/mol, p = 0.118) (9.0 ± 2.5 vs 8.7 ± 2.4%) or proportion treated with insulin (62% vs 58%). There was more GLP1 agonist use in the BMI ≥ 35 group (13% vs 7%, p = 0.003) but similar rates of SGLT2 inhibitor use (25% vs 21%, p = 0.202). The BMI ≥ 35 group received more new medication and/or dose adjustments (74% vs 66%, p = 0.016). Only 29% in the BMI ≥ 35 kg group achieved HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (7.0%). Conclusions In spite of frequently meeting the criteria for bariatric surgery and not achieving glycaemic targets, people with T2DM in this specialist clinic received limited medical or surgical management of their obesity. This study suggests opportunities for improvement in care of people with T2DM at several levels including increased referrals from T2DM services to weight management/bariatric services, as well as an increased use of GLP1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors where appropriate. Our data support the need to prioritise obesity management in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Improving access to refugee-focused health services for people from refugee-like backgrounds in south-eastern Melbourne through the education sector

People from refugee-like backgrounds living in Australia face substantial health challenges that benefit from access to health and social services. Many people from refugee-like backgrounds have frequent contact with education sector staff, who have the potential to act as conduits to health and social services. The aim of this project was to improve access to refugee-focused health services for people from refugee-like backgrounds in south-eastern Melbourne by codesigning and delivering a 1-day education forum to education sector staff. Evaluation of the forum used mixed-methods analysis of data from pre-post and follow-up surveys (n=11; administered before, immediately after and 1 month after the forum respectively), post-forum interviews (n=4) and one school’s referral records. The forum improved attendees’ refugee-focused health service referral knowledge, confidence and behaviour. This was supported by the qualitative findings of high staff motivation, high forum satisfaction and evidence of outcome sustainability. Education staff are an important complement to an integrated model of health care for recently resettled people from refugee-like backgrounds. These results show that a straightforward local intervention can improve the ability of education staff to act as conduits to health services, increasing access to health services for people from refugee-like backgrounds.

Severe Obesity in A Specialist Type 2 Diabetes Outpatient Clinic: An Australian Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications. Significant weight loss has been shown to improve glycaemia in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity. National and International guidelines recommend considering bariatric surgery for body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2. We assessed the proportion of people with T2DM meeting criteria for surgery, how many had been offered a bariatric/obesity service referral, and compared the characteristics of people with BMI≥35kg/m2 and BMI < 35 kg/m2.Methods Retrospective data were collected for all people with T2DM aged ≥18 years, attending a hospital specialist diabetes outpatient service over three calendar years, 2017–2019.Results Of 700 people seen in the service, 291 (42%) had BMI≥35kg/m2 (the “BMI≥35 group”) and met criteria for bariatric surgery, but only 54 (19%) of them were offered referral to an obesity service. The BMI≥35 group was younger than those with a BMI < 35 kg/m2 (56.1 ± 14.8 vs 61.4 ± 14.6 years, p < 0.001) (mean ± SD), with similar diabetes duration (11.0 ± 9.0 vs 12.3 ± 8.9 years, p = 0.078), and there was no significant difference in initial HbA1c (75 ± 27 vs 72 ± 26 mmol/mol, p = 0.118) (9.0 ± 2.5 vs 8.7 ± 2.4%) or proportion treated with insulin (62% vs 58%). There was more GLP1 agonist use in the BMI≥35 group (13% vs 7%, p = 0.003) but similar rates of SGLT2 inhibitor use (25% vs 21%, p = 0.202). The BMI≥35 group received more new medication and/or dose adjustments (74% vs 66%, p = 0.016). Only 29% in the BMI≥35kg group achieved HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (7.0%).Conclusions In spite of frequently meeting the criteria for bariatric surgery and not achieving glycaemic targets, people with T2DM in this specialist clinic received limited medical or surgical management of their obesity. Our data support the need to prioritise obesity management in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Preferences and acceptability of law enforcement initiated referrals for people who inject drugs: a mixed methods analysis

Background Law enforcement officers (LEOs) come into frequent contact with people who inject drugs (PWID). Through service referrals, LEOs may facilitate PWID engagement in harm reduction, substance use treatment, and other health and supportive services. Little is known about PWID and LEO attitudes and concerns about service referrals, however. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to examine the alignment of service referral preferences and acceptability among PWID and LEOs in Tijuana, Mexico. Methods We assessed service referral preferences and perceived likelihood of participation in health and social services, integrating data from structured questionnaires with 280 PWID and 306 LEOs, contextualized by semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 15 PWID and 17 LEOs enrolled in two parallel longitudinal cohorts in Tijuana, Mexico. Results Among potential service referral options, both PWID (78%) and LEOs (88%) most frequently cited assistance with drug- and alcohol-use disorders. Over half of PWID and LEOs supported including harm reduction services such as syringe service programs, overdose prevention, and HIV testing. The majority of PWID supported LEO referrals to programs that addressed basic structural needs (e.g. personal care [62%], food assistance [61%], housing assistance [58%]). However, the proportion of LEOs (30–45%) who endorsed these service referrals was significantly lower (p < 0.01). Regarding referral acceptability, 71% of PWID reported they would be very likely or somewhat likely to make use of a referral compared to 94% of LEOs reporting that they thought PWID would always or sometimes utilize them. These results were echoed in the qualitative analysis, although practical barriers to referrals emerged, whereby PWID were less optimistic that they would utilize referrals compared to LEOs. Conclusions We identified strong support for LEO service referrals among both LEO and PWID respondents, with the highest preference for substance use treatment. LEO referral programs offer opportunities to deflect PWID contact with carceral systems while facilitating access to health and social services. However, appropriate investments and political will are needed to develop an evidence-based (integrated) service infrastructure.