Articles

Dynamic capacity allocation in a radiology service considering different types of patients, individual no-show probabilities, and overbooking

We propose a mathematical model formulated as a finite-horizon Markov Decision Process (MDP) to allocate capacity in a radiology department that serves different types of patients. To the best of our knowledge...

Authors: Rodolfo Benedito Zattar da Silva, Flávio Sanson Fogliatto, André Krindges and Moiseis dos Santos Cecconello

Multimorbidity and achievement of treatment goals among patients with type 2 diabetes: a primary care, real-world study

Type 2 diabetes (T2D), with its prevalence and disability-causing nature, is a challenge for primary health care. Most patients with T2D are multimorbid, i.e. have one or more long-term diseases in addition to...

Authors: Eveliina Heikkala, Ilona Mikkola, Jari Jokelainen, Markku Timonen and Maria Hagnäs

Quality evaluation questionnaires – nursing homes (QEQ-NH); validation of questionnaires for measuring quality of care in nursing homes from various perspectives

This study aims to describe the validation and optimization of a new instrument designed to comprehensively measure and evaluate the quality of care in nursing homes; the Quality Evaluation Questionnaires for Nur...

Authors: Mattanja Triemstra, Juliane Menting and Bellis van den Berg

An explorative study of factors associated with treatment in specialized mental health care centers among GP patients in Norway

Effectiveness and efficiency are part of the quality of care for mental health problems, and treatment should thus be performed at the right level of care. Norwegian guidelines specify which patients should be...

Authors: Ole Gunnar Tveit, Torleif Ruud, Ketil Hanssen-Bauer, Ole Rikard Haavet and Ajmal Hussain

Reducing exposure to COVID-19 by improving access to fever clinics: an empirical research of the Shenzhen area of China

The current 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is hitting citizen’s life and health like never before, with its significant loss to human life and a huge economic toll. In this case, the fever clinic...

Authors: Qing Yong, Dinglong Liu, Guoqi Li, Wanshan Wu, Wenjie Sun and Sijing Liu

Collective empowerment of an online patient community: conceptualizing process dynamics using a multi-method qualitative approach

Online communities for patients with chronic conditions are becoming healthcare providers. They gather to offer support and services, and to become a collective oppositional force. We found, however, that thes...

Authors: Marie-Georges Fayn, Véronique des Garets and Arnaud Rivière

Predictive accuracy of enhanced versions of the on-admission National Early Warning Score in estimating the risk of COVID-19 for unplanned admission to hospital: a retrospective development and validation study

The novel coronavirus SARS-19 produces ‘COVID-19’ in patients with symptoms. COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital require early assessment and care including isolation. The National Early Warning Score (...

Authors: Muhammad Faisal, Mohammed Amin Mohammed, Donald Richardson, Ewout W. Steyerberg, Massimo Fiori and Kevin Beatson

Pediatric primary care and subspecialist providers’ comfort, attitudes and practices screening and referring for social determinants of health

Early detection and management of poverty-related disorders is a recommended pediatric practice; however, little is known about variations of practice between pediatric primary care physicians and subspecialis...

Authors: Yonit Lax, Eleanor Bathory and Sandra Braganza

The burden of recording and reporting health data in primary health care facilities in five low- and lower-middle income countries

Recording and reporting health data in facilities is the backbone of routine health information systems which provide data collected by health facility workers during service provision. Data is firstly collect...

Authors: Amani Siyam, Por Ir, Dararith York, James Antwi, Freddie Amponsah, Ofelia Rambique, Carlos Funzamo, Aderemi Azeez, Leonard Mboera, Claud John Kumalija, Susan Fred Rumisha, Irene Mremi, Ties Boerma and Kathryn O’Neill

Strengthening routine health information systems for analysis and data use: a tipping point

Authors: Agbessi Amouzou, Cheikh Faye, Kaspar Wyss and Ties Boerma

Improving analysis and use of routine reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health facility data in low-and middle-income countries: a universal priority

Authors: Theresa Diaz and Jennifer Requejo

Estimation of Ethiopia’s immunization coverage – 20 years of discrepancies

Coverage with the third dose of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-containing vaccine (DPT3) is a widely used measure of the performance of routine immunization systems. Since 2015, data reported by Ethiopia’s healt...

Authors: Bob Pond, Abebe Bekele, Sandra Mounier-Jack, Habtamu Teklie and Theodros Getachew

Measuring coverage of maternal and child health services using routine health facility data: a Sierra Leone case study

There are limited existing approaches to generate estimates from Routine Health Information Systems (RHIS) data, despite the growing interest to these data. We calculated and assessed the consistency of matern...

Authors: Abdoulaye Maïga, Agbessi Amouzou, Moussa Bagayoko, Cheikh M. Faye, Safia S. Jiwani, Dauda Kamara, Ibrahim B. Koroma and Osman Sankoh

Can routine health facility data be used to monitor subnational coverage of maternal, newborn and child health services in Uganda?

Routine health facility data are a critical source of local monitoring of progress and performance at the subnational level. Uganda has been using district health statistics from facility data for many years. ...

Authors: Geraldine Agiraembabazi, Jimmy Ogwal, Christine Tashobya, Rornald Muhumuza Kananura, Ties Boerma and Peter Waiswa

A review of geospatial methods for population estimation and their use in constructing reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health service indicators

Household survey data are frequently used to measure reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) service utilisation in low and middle income countries. However, these surveys are typ...

Authors: Kristine Nilsen, Natalia Tejedor-Garavito, Douglas R. Leasure, C. Edson Utazi, Corrine W. Ruktanonchai, Adelle S. Wigley, Claire A. Dooley, Zoe Matthews and Andrew J. Tatem

Improving quality of medical certification of causes of death in health facilities in Tanzania 2014–2019

Monitoring medically certified causes of death is essential to shape national health policies, track progress to Sustainable Development Goals, and gauge responses to epidemic and pandemic disease. The combina...

Authors: Trust Nyondo, Gisbert Msigwa, Daniel Cobos, Gregory Kabadi, Tumaniel Macha, Emilian Karugendo, Joyce Mugasa, Geofrey Semu, Francis Levira, Carmen Sant Fruchtman, James Mwanza, Isaac Lyatuu, Martin Bratschi, Claud J. Kumalija, Philip Setel and Don de Savigny

Establishing evidence-based decision-making mechanism in a health eco-system and its linkages with health service coverage in 25 high-priority districts of Uttar Pradesh, India

Achievement of successful health outcomes depends on evidence-based programming and implementation of effective health interventions. Routine Health Management Information System is one of the most valuable da...

Authors: Ravi Prakash, Bidyadhar Dehury, Charu Yadav, Anand Bhushan Tripathi, Chhavi Sodhi, Huzaifa Bilal, N. Vasanthakumar, Shajy Isac, B. M. Ramesh, James Blanchard and Ties Boerma

The use of health facility data to assess the effects of armed conflicts on maternal and child health: experience from the Kivu, DR Congo

In conflict-affected settings, data on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) are often lacking for priority setting and timely decision-making. We aimed to describe the levels and trends in ...

Authors: Espoir Bwenge Malembaka, Chiara Altare, Rosine Nshobole Bigirinama, Ghislain Bisimwa, Robert Banywesize, Nabil Tabbal and Ties Boerma

Is South Africa closing the health gaps between districts? Monitoring progress towards universal health service coverage with routine facility data

South Africa is committed to advancing universal health coverage (UHC). The usefulness and potential of using routine health facility data for monitoring progress towards UHC, in the form of the 16-tracer WHO ...

Authors: Candy Day, Andy Gray, Annibale Cois, Noluthando Ndlovu, Naomi Massyn and Ties Boerma

Rates, costs, return to work and reoperation following spinal surgery in a workers’ compensation cohort in New South Wales, 2010–2018: a cohort study using administrative data

Internationally, elective spinal surgery rates in workers’ compensation populations are high, as are reoperation rates, while return-to-work rates following spinal surgery are low. Little information is availa...

Authors: AM Lewin, M Fearnside, R Kuru, BP Jonker, JM Naylor, M Sheridan and IA Harris

Creating person-al space for unspoken voices during diagnostic medical imaging examinations: a qualitative study

There is emerging interest in person-centred care within a short-lived yet complex medical imaging encounter. This study explored this event from the viewpoint of patients referred for an imaging examination, ...

Authors: Chandra Rekha Makanjee, Anne-Marie Bergh, Deon Xu and Drishti Sarswat

Changes in pediatric hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national qualitative study

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid changes in healthcare delivery in the United States, including changes in the care of hospitalized children. The objectives of this study were to identify major cha...

Authors: Nicole Y. Penwill, Nadia Roessler De Angulo, Priya R. Pathak, Clairissa Ja, Martha J. Elster, Daniela Hochreiter, Jacqueline M. Newton, Karen M. Wilson and Sunitha V. Kaiser

Patient gender does not influence referral to an orthopaedic surgeon by advanced practice orthopaedic providers: a prospective observational study in Canada

The role of an advanced practice physiotherapist has been introduced in many countries to improve access to care for patients with hip and knee arthritis. Traditional models of care have shown a gender bias, w...

Authors: Susan Robarts, Suzanne Denis, Deborah Kennedy, Patricia Dickson, Shahiroz Juma, Veronica Palinkas, Maria Rachevitz, Dragana Boljanovic-Susic and Paul Stratford

Investigating geographical variation in the use of mental health services by area of England: a cross-sectional ecological study

There is evidence of geographical variation in the use of mental health services in the UK and in international settings. It is important to understand whether this variation reflects differences in the preval...

Authors: Lucy Maconick, Luke Sheridan Rains, Rebecca Jones, Brynmor Lloyd-Evans and Sonia Johnson

Discharging the complex patient - changing our focus to patients’ networks of care providers

A disconnect exists between the idealized model of every patient having a family physician (FP) who acts as the central hub for care, and the reality of health care where patients must navigate a network of di...

Authors: Laurent Perrault-Sequeira, Jacqueline Torti, Andrew Appleton, Maria Mathews and Mark Goldszmidt

Adjusting health care: practicing care for socially vulnerable type 2 diabetes patients

Type 2 diabetes cluster in lower social groups and people with type 2 diabetes from lower social groups experience more complications, benefit less from health services and live shorter lives than people with ...

Authors: Sofie á Rogvi, Ann Dorrit Guassora, Gitte Wind, Nina Tvistholm, Solveig May-Britt Jansen, Inge Birgitte Hansen, Hans Joergen Duckert Perrild and Ulla Christensen

Mobility for maternal health among women in hard-to-reach fishing communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda; a community-based cross-sectional survey

Maternal mortality is still a challenge in Uganda, at 336 deaths per 100,000 live births, especially in rural hard to reach communities. Distance to a health facility influences maternal deaths. We explored wo...

Authors: Ali Ssetaala, Julius Ssempiira, Gertrude Nanyonjo, Brenda Okech, Kundai Chinyenze, Bernard Bagaya, Matt A Price, Noah Kiwanuka and Olivier Degomme

Health economic benefits through the use of diagnostic support systems and expert knowledge

Rare diseases are difficult to diagnose. Due to their rarity, heterogeneity, and variability, rare diseases often result not only in extensive diagnostic tests and imaging studies, but also in unnecessary repe...

Authors: Tina Willmen, Lukas Völkel, Simon Ronicke, Martin C. Hirsch, Jessica Kaufeld, Reinhard P. Rychlik and Annette D. Wagner

Barriers and enablers to implementing ‘DEALTS2’ simulation-based train-the–trainer dementia training programme in hospital settings across England: a qualitative study

Despite approaches to provide effective dementia training in acute care settings, little is known about the barriers and enablers to implement and embed learning into practice. We were commissioned by Health E...

Authors: Michelle Heward, Michele Board, Ashley Spriggs, Dina Blagden and Jane Murphy

Pharmacies in informal settlements: a retrospective, cross-sectional household and health facility survey in four countries

Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of var...

Authors: Sam Watson

Healthcare professionals’ practice and interactions in older peoples’ cross-sectoral clinical care trajectories when acutely hospitalized - a qualitative observation study

Healthcare services have become more complex, globally and nationally. Denmark is renowned for an advanced and robust healthcare system, aiming at a less fragmented structure. However, challenges within the co...

Authors: Maiken Hjuler Persson, Christian Backer Mogensen, Jens Søndergaard, Helene Skjøt-Arkil and Pernille Tanggaard Andersen

Geospatial analysis and impact of targeted development of breast cancer care in The Gambia: a cross-sectional study

The Gambia has one of the lowest survival rates for breast cancer in Africa. Contributing factors are late presentation, delays within the healthcare system, and decreased availability of resources. We aimed t...

Authors: Ousman Sanyang, Fidel Lopez-Verdugo, Meghan Mali, Moustafa Moustafa, Jonathan Nellermoe, Justin Sorensen, Mustapha Bittaye, Ramou Njie, Yankuba Singhateh, Ngally Aboubacarr Sambou, Alison Goldsmith, Nuredin I. Mohammed, Kirstyn E. Brownson, Raymond R. Price and Edward Sutherland

Optimising symptom management in children with cancer using a novel mobile phone application: protocol for a controlled hybrid effectiveness implementation trial (RESPONSE)

Intense and aggressive treatment regimens for most children’s cancer have achieved vast improvements in survival but are also responsible for both a high number and burden of symptoms. The use of Patient Repor...

Authors: Natalie Bradford, Paula Condon, Erin Pitt, Zephanie Tyack and Kimberly Alexander

An evaluation of an influenza vaccination campaign targeting pregnant women in 27 clinics in two provinces of South Africa, 2015 – 2018

Despite prioritization, routine antenatal influenza vaccine coverage is < 16% in South Africa. We aimed to describe maternal influenza vaccine coverage in 27 antenatal clinics (ANCs) in Gauteng and Western Cap...

Authors: Kate Bishop, Meredith McMorrow, Susan Meiring, Sibongile Walaza, Liza Rossi, Sarona Mhlanga, Stefano Tempia, Azwifarwi Mathunjwa, Jackie Kleynhans, Grace D. Appiah, Johanna M. McAnerney, Heather J. Zar and Cheryl Cohen

The increasing impact of length of stay “outliers” on length of stay at an urban academic hospital

As healthcare systems strive for efficiency, hospital “length of stay outliers” have the potential to significantly impact a hospital’s overall utilization. There is a tendency to exclude such “outlier” stays ...

Authors: Andrew H. Hughes, David Horrocks Jr, Curtis Leung, Melissa B. Richardson, Ann M. Sheehy and Charles F. S. Locke

A budget impact analysis of bezlotoxumab versus standard of care antibiotics only in patients at high risk of CDI recurrence from a hospital management perspective in Germany

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the leading nosocomial infections, resulting in increased hospital length of stay and additional treatment costs. Bezlotoxumab, the first monoclonal antibody aga...

Authors: Florian Jakobs, Sebastian Marcel Wingen-Heimann, Julia Jeck, Anna Kron, Oliver Andreas Cornely and Florian Kron

Forecasting the length-of-stay of pediatric patients in hospitals: a scoping review

Healthcare management faces complex challenges in allocating hospital resources, and predicting patients’ length-of-stay (LOS) is critical in effectively managing those resources. This work aims to map approac...

Authors: Natália B. Medeiros, Flavio S. Fogliatto, Miriam K. Rocha and Guilherme L. Tortorella

Maximizing acceptance of clinical pharmacy recommendations to reduce length of hospital stay in a private hospital from Amman, Jordan

Clinical pharmacy interventions (CPI) usually require prior medical authorization. Physicians approve 80% of CPI and reject 20%. If pharmacists show that physicians should authorize all 100% CPI, the professio...

Authors: Loai M. Saadah, Amer H. Khan, Syed Azhar Syed Sulaiman and Iman A. Bashiti

Data analysis of ambient intelligence in a healthcare simulation system: a pilot study in high-end health screening process improvement

This study aimed to reduce the total waiting time for high-end health screening processes.

Authors: Ming-Shu Chen, Kun-Chih Wu, Yu-Ling Tsai and Bernard C. Jiang

Questionnaire survey investigation of the present status of dietetic consultation at community pharmacies from the perspectives of registered dietitians and pharmacists

Registered dietitians are rarely employed at community pharmacies in Japan, even though dietetic advice might benefit some patients.

Authors: Hayato Kizaki, Tomu Ota, Saki Mashima, Yoshimi Nakamura, Shoko Kiyokawa, Hidenori Kominato, Hiroki Satoh, Yasufumi Sawada and Satoko Hori

Recent research into healthcare professions regulation: a rapid evidence assessment

Over the last decade, regulators have taken significant steps towards tackling perceptions that regulatory systems are burdensome. There has been much international research activity in the regulation of healt...

Authors: Julie Browne, Alison Bullock, Chiara Poletti and Dorottya Cserző

Exploring experiences of implementing standardized cancer patient pathways within investigatory units – a qualitative study

In the implementation of standardized cancer patient pathways (CPPs), the investigatory units, endoscopy, radiology and pathology, are crucial to ensure an eventual cancer diagnosis. However, when evaluating t...

Authors: Jeanette Winterling, Sara Delilovic, Jessica Dervish, Malin Gunarsson, Mårten Åhström and Henna Hasson

A framework for the implementation of certification procedures in nurse level: a mixed approach study

The implementation of certification procedures across healthcare systems is an essential component of the management process. Several promising approaches were developed toward a successful implementation of s...

Authors: Israa Salma and Mathias Waelli

Adverse events reporting by obstetric units in Norway as part of their quality assurance and patient safety work: an analysis of practice

The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision aims to contribute to the improvement of quality and patient safety in the healthcare services. Planned audits were performed to investigate how 12 selected Norwegian ...

Authors: Lars T. Johansen, Geir Sverre Braut, Ganesh Acharya, Jan Fredrik Andresen and Pål Øian

The impact of payer status on hospital admissions: evidence from an academic medical center

There are plenty of studies investigating the disparity of payer status in accessing to care. However, most studies are either disease-specific or cohort-specific. Quantifying the disparity from the level of f...

Authors: Yanying Zhao, Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis and Jianqiang Hu

Patient participation in cancer network governance: a six-year case study

Patient participation in decision-making has become a hallmark of responsive healthcare systems. Cancer networks in many countries have committed to involving people living with and beyond cancer (PLC) at mult...

Authors: Dominique Tremblay, Nassera Touati, Susan Usher, Karine Bilodeau, Marie-Pascale Pomey and Lise Lévesque

Using a theory of change to develop an integrated intervention for depression, diabetes and hypertension in Zimbabwe: lessons from the Friendship Bench project

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are projected to become the leading cause of disability and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030; a vast treatment gap exists. There is a dearth of knowledge on developing e...

Authors: Tiny Tinashe Kamvura, Jean Turner, Ephraim Chiriseri, Jermaine Dambi, Ruth Verhey and Dixon Chibanda

Critical comparative analysis of data sources toward understanding referral during pregnancy and childbirth: three perspectives from Nigeria

The highest risk of maternal and perinatal deaths occurs during and shortly after childbirth and is preventable if functional referral systems enable women to reach appropriate health services when obstetric c...

Authors: Emma Radovich, Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas, Oona M. R. Campbell, Michael Ezeanochie, Uchenna Gwacham-Anisiobi, Adedapo B. A. Ande and Lenka Benova

The impact of the Affordable Care Act on patient coverage and access to care: perspectives from FQHC administrators in Arizona, California and Texas

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enabled millions of people to gain coverage that was expected to improve access to healthcare services. However, it is unclear the extent of the policy’s impact on Federally Quali...

Authors: Angelo Ercia

Facilitators and barriers for the implementation of telemedicine from a local government point of view - a cross-sectional survey in Germany

Telemedicine offers additional ways of delivering medical care, e.g., in primary care in rural areas. During the last decades, projects including telemedicine are being implemented worldwide. However, implemen...

Authors: Maja Maria Weißenfeld, Katja Goetz and Jost Steinhäuser