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Design and evaluation of a digital health intervention with proactive follow-up by nurses to improve healthcare and outcomes for patients with breast cancer in Mexico: protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Introduction

Nearly 30 000 Mexican women develop breast cancer annually, frequently presenting unmet supportive care needs. In high-income countries, incorporating electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) into cancer care has demonstrated potential for increasing patient-centred care and reducing unmet needs. No such ePRO interventions have been implemented in Mexico. This paper presents the study protocol for designing and evaluating an ePRO digital health application combined with proactive follow-up by nurses.

Methods and analysis

We designed a two-component intervention for women receiving breast cancer treatment: a responsive web application for monitoring ePROs and clinical algorithms guiding proactive follow-up by nurses. We will conduct a pilot test of the intervention with 50 patients with breast cancer for 6 weeks to assess feasibility and adjust the application. We will conduct a parallel arm randomised controlled trial assigning 205 patients each to intervention and control in one of Mexico’s largest public oncology hospitals. The intervention will be provided for 6 months, with additional 3 months of post-intervention observation. The control group will receive usual healthcare and a list of breast cancer information sources. Women diagnosed with stages I, II or III breast cancer who initiate chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy will be invited to participate. The primary study outcome will be supportive care needs; secondary outcomes include global quality of life and breast symptoms. Information on the outcomes will be obtained through web-based self-administered questionnaires collected at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 9 months.

Ethics and dissemination

The National Research and Ethics Committees of the Mexican Institute of Social Security approved the study (R-2021-785-059). Participants will sign an informed consent form prior to their inclusion. Findings will be disseminated through a policy brief to the local authorities, a webinar for patients, publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT05925257.

Promoting REproductive Planning And REadiness in Diabetes (PREPARED) Study protocol: a clinic-randomised controlled trial testing a technology-based strategy to promote preconception care for women with type 2 diabetes

Por: Bailey · S. C. · Pack · A. P. · Wismer · G. · Calderon · N. · Velazquez · E. · Batio · S. · Ekong · A. · Eggleston · A. · Wallia · A. · Wolf · M. S. · Schauer · J. M. · Tenfelde · S. · Liebovitz · D. M. · Grobman · W. A.
Introduction

Women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are more likely to experience adverse reproductive outcomes, yet preconception care can significantly reduce these risks. For women with T2DM, preconception care includes reproductive planning and patient education on: (1) the importance of achieving glycaemic control before pregnancy, (2) using effective contraception until pregnancy is desired, (3) discontinuing teratogenic medications if pregnancy could occur, (4) taking folic acid, and (5) managing cardiovascular and other risks. Despite its importance, few women with T2DM receive recommended preconception care.

Methods and analysis

We are conducting a two-arm, clinic-randomised trial at 51 primary care practices in Chicago, Illinois to evaluate a technology-based strategy to ‘hardwire’ preconception care for women of reproductive age with T2DM (the PREPARED (Promoting REproductive Planning And REadiness in Diabetes) strategy) versus usual care. PREPARED leverages electronic health record (EHR) technology before and during primary care visits to: (1) promote medication safety, (2) prompt preconception counselling and reproductive planning, and (3) deliver patient-friendly educational tools to reinforce counselling. Post-visit, text messaging is used to: (4) encourage healthy lifestyle behaviours. English and Spanish-speaking women, aged 18–44 years, with T2DM will be enrolled (N=840; n=420 per arm) and will receive either PREPARED or usual care based on their clinic’s assignment. Data will be collected from patient interviews and the EHR. Outcomes include haemoglobin A1c (primary), reproductive knowledge and self-management behaviours. We will use generalised linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs) to evaluate the impact of PREPARED on these outcomes. GLMMs will include a fixed effect for treatment assignment (PREPARED vs usual care) and random clinic effects.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board (STU00214604). Study results will be published in journals with summaries shared online and with participants upon request.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04976881).

Development and validation of a multimorbidity risk prediction nomogram among Chinese middle-aged and older adults: a retrospective cohort study

Por: Zheng · X. · Xue · B. · Xiao · S. · Li · X. · Chen · Y. · Shi · L. · Liang · X. · Tian · F. · Zhang · C.
Objectives

The aim of this study is to establish a self-simple-to-use nomogram to predict the risk of multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Participants

We used data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, including 7735 samples.

Main outcome measures

Samples’ demographic characteristics, modifiable lifestyles and depression were collected. Cox proportional hazard models and nomogram model were used to estimate the risk factors of multimorbidity.

Results

A total of 3576 (46.2%) participants have multimorbidity. The result showed that age, female (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.89), chronic disease (HR 2.59, 95% CI 2.38 to 2.82), sleep time (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.85), regular physical activity (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.95), drinking (HR 1.27 95% CI 1.16 to 1.39), smoking (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.53), body mass index (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.05) and depression (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03) were associated with multimorbidity. The C-index of nomogram models for derivation and validation sets were 0.70 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.71, p=0.006) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.73, p=0.008), respectively.

Conclusions

We have crafted a user-friendly nomogram model for predicting multimorbidity risk among middle-aged and older adults. This model integrates readily available and routinely assessed risk factors, enabling the early identification of high-risk individuals and offering tailored preventive and intervention strategies.

How can NHS trusts in England optimise strategies to improve the mental health and well-being of hospital doctors? The Care Under Pressure 3 (CUP3) realist evaluation study protocol

Por: Bramwell · C. · Carrieri · D. · Melvin · A. · Pearson · A. · Scott · J. · Hancock · J. · Pearson · M. · Papoutsi · C. · Wong · G. · Mattick · K.
Introduction

The growing incidence of mental ill health in doctors was a major issue in the UK and internationally, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has significant and far-reaching implications, including poor quality or inconsistent patient care, absenteeism, workforce attrition and retention issues, presenteeism, and increased risk of suicide. Existing approaches to workplace support do not take into account the individual, organisational and social factors contributing to mental ill health in doctors, nor how interventions/programmes might interact with each other within the workplace. The aim of this study is to work collaboratively with eight purposively selected National Health Service (NHS) trusts within England to develop an evidence-based implementation toolkit for all NHS trusts to reduce doctors’ mental ill health and its impacts on the workforce.

Methods and analysis

The project will incorporate three phases. Phase 1 develops a typology of interventions to reduce doctors’ mental ill health. Phase 2 is a realist evaluation of the existing combinations of strategies being used by acute English healthcare trusts to reduce doctors’ mental ill health (including preventative promotion of well-being), based on 160 interviews with key stakeholders. Phase 3 synthesises the insights gained through phases 1 and 2, to create an implementation toolkit that all UK healthcare trusts can use to optimise their strategies to reduce doctors’ mental ill health and its impact on the workforce and patient care.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been granted for phase 2 of the project from the NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC reference number 22/WA/0352). As part of the conditions for our ethics approval, the sites included in our study will remain anonymous. To ensure the relevance of the study’s outputs, we have planned a wide range of dissemination strategies: an implementation toolkit for healthcare leaders, service managers and doctors; conventional academic outputs such as journal manuscripts and conference presentations; plain English summaries; cartoons and animations; and a media engagement campaign.

Implementing paediatric patient-reported outcome measures in outpatient asthma clinics: a feasibility assessment study

Por: Bele · S. · Paolucci · E. O. · Johnson · D. W. · Quan · H. · Santana · M.-J.
Objective

Implementation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is limited in paediatric routine clinical care. The KidsPRO programme has been codesigned to facilitate the implementation of PROMs in paediatric healthcare settings. Therefore, this study (1) describes the development of innovative KidsPRO programme and (2) reports on the feasibility of implementing PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) PROM in asthma clinics using the KidsPRO programme.

Design

Feasibility assessment study.

Setting

Outpatient paediatric asthma clinics in the city of Calgary, Canada.

Participants

Five paediatric patients, four family caregivers and three healthcare providers were recruited to pilot the implementation of PedsQL PROM using KidsPRO. Then, a survey was used to assess its feasibility among these study participants.

Main outcome measures

Participants’ understanding of using PROMs, the adequacy of support provided to them, the utility of using PROMs as part of their appointment, and their satisfaction with using PROMs.

Analyses

The quantitative data generated through closed-ended questions was analysed and represented in the form of bar charts for each category of study participants (ie, patients, their family caregivers and healthcare providers). The qualitative data generated through the open-ended questions were content analysed and categorised into themes.

Results

The experience of using PROMs was overwhelmingly positive among patients and their family caregivers, results were mixed among healthcare providers. Qualitative data collected through open-ended questions also complemented the quantitative findings.

Conclusion

The evidence from this study reveals that the implementation of PROMs in routine paediatric clinical care asthma clinics in Alberta is seems to be feasible.

Experiences with remote interpreting tools in primary care settings: a qualitative evaluation of the implementation and usage of remote interpreting tools during a feasibility trial in Germany

Por: Pruskil · S. · Fiedler · J. · Pohontsch · N. J. · Scherer · M.
Objective

This study aims to evaluate the usage and implementation of video remote (VR) interpreting and telephone remote (TR) interpreting in primary healthcare settings.

Design

This publication forms part of a larger three-pronged study in which we compared both remote interpreting modalities to each other and to a control group. This paper conveys the findings of the qualitative evaluation of the implementation and usage of both remote interpreting solutions. The quantitative evaluation of the 6-month intervention period (September 2018–February 2019) has been reported previously. After this period, we conducted focus groups with the healthcare professionals involved. The focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the structured qualitative content analysis.

Setting

We provided either VR or TR tools to 10 different primary healthcare practices (general medicine, gynaecology and paediatrics) in the city of Hamburg, Germany.

Participants

Three physicians and two physician’s assistants took part in the TR focus group. The VR focus group consisted of four physicians.

Results

The main topics identified were the importance of communication for diagnostic and therapeutic processes, previous solutions to language barriers, as well as advantages and disadvantages of the two remote interpreting solutions. Advantages included the possibility to adequately communicate with language discordant patients and the high quality of the interpreting. Disadvantages included the habituation time required for new technology as well as time constraints.

Conclusion

Our evaluation found that these solutions were highly appreciated, if not considered indispensable, for the delivery of appropriate medical care to language-discordant patients. Differences between the two modalities were named and concrete suggestions for improvement were made. Policy-makers should consider providing VR or TR as an adequate and safe interpreting service alternative when professional in-person interpreters are not available or too expensive.

Maternal near-miss prediction model development among pregnant women in Bahir Dar City administration, northwest Ethiopia: a study protocol

Por: Workineh · Y. · Alene · G. D. · Fekadu · G. A.
Introduction

Maternal near-miss is a condition when a woman nearly died but survived from complications that happened during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days after delivery. Maternal near-miss is more prevalent among women in developing nations. Previous studies have identified the impact of different predictor variables on maternal near-miss but shared prognostic predictors are not adequately explored in Ethiopia. It is therefore necessary to build a clinical prediction model for maternal near-misses in Ethiopia. Hence, the aim of this study is to develop and validate a prognostic prediction model, and generate a risk score for maternal near-miss among pregnant women in Bahir Dar City Administration.

Methods and analysis

A prospective follow-up study design will be employed among 2110 selected pregnant women in the Bahir Dar City administration from 1 May 2023 to 1 April 2024. At the initial antenatal visit, pregnant women will be systematically selected. Then, they will be followed until 42 days following birth. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires and data extraction sheet. The model will be created using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. The performance of the model will be assessed based on its capacity for discrimination using c-index and calibration using calibration plot, intercept and slope. The model’s internal validity will be evaluated through the bootstrapping method. Ultimately, the model will be illustrated through a nomogram and decision tree, which will be made available to prospective users.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University (protocol number 704/2023). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and local and international seminars, conferences, symposiums and workshops. Manuscripts will be prepared and published in scientifically reputable journals. In addition, policy briefs will be prepared.

Time trends and patterns in opioid prescription use following orthopaedic surgery in Ontario, Canada, from 2004/2005 to 2017/2018: a population-based study

Por: Canizares · M. · Power · J. D. · Perruccio · A. V. · Veillette · C. · Mahomed · N. · Rampersaud · Y. R.
Objectives

Increased use of opioids and their associated harms have raised concerns around prescription opioid use for pain management following surgery. We examined trends and patterns of opioid prescribing following elective orthopaedic surgery.

Design

Population-based study.

Setting

Ontario, Canada.

Participants

Ontario residents aged 66+ years who had elective orthopaedic surgery from April 2004 to March 2018.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Postoperative opioid use (short term: within 90 days of surgery, prolonged: within 180 days and chronic: within 1 year), specific opioids prescribed, average duration (days) and amount (morphine milligram equivalents) of the initial prescription by year of surgery.

Results

We included 464 460 elective orthopaedic surgeries in 2004/2005–2017/2018: 80% of patients used opioids within 1 year of surgery—25.1% were chronic users. There was an 8% increase in opioid use within 1 year of surgery, from 75.1% in 2004/2005 to 80.9% in 2017/2018: a 29% increase in short-term use and a decline in prolonged (9%) and chronic (22%) use. After 2014/2015, prescribed opioid amounts initially declined sharply, while the duration of the initial prescription increased substantially. Across categories of use, there was a steady decline in coprescription of benzodiazepines and opioids.

Conclusions

Most patients filled opioid prescriptions after surgery, and many continued filling prescriptions after 3 months. During a period of general increase in awareness of opioid harms and dissemination of guidelines/policies aimed at opioid prescribing for chronic pain, we found changes in prescribing practices following elective orthopaedic surgery. Findings illustrate the potential impact of guidelines/policies on shaping prescription patterns in the surgical population, even in the absence of specific guidelines for surgical prescribing.

A qualitative exploration of the facility-based trauma care for Road Traffic Crash patients in Bangladesh: When only numbers do not tell the whole story

Por: Tune · S. N. B. K. · Mehmood · A. · Naher · N. · Islam · B. Z. · Ahmed · S. M.
Objective

Bangladesh is currently undergoing an epidemic of road traffic crashes (RTCs). In addition to morbidity and mortality, the economic loss from RTC as per cent of gross domestic product is comparatively higher than in countries with similar socioeconomic conditions. However, trauma care remained poorly developed as a specialty and service delivery mechanism. This study aimed to examine the current situation of in-hospital trauma care after RTCs to inform the design of a comprehensive service for Bangladesh.

Design, setting and participants

This qualitative study attempted to elicit stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of managing RTCs through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Three districts and Dhaka city were selected based on the frequency of occurrence of RTCs. Fifteen in-depth interviews and 5 focus group discussions were conducted with 38 RTC patients, their relatives and community members in the catchment areas of 11 facilities managing trauma patients. Key informant interviews were conducted with 21 service providers and 17 key stakeholders/policy-makers.

Results

Hospital-based trauma care was generally poor in primary and secondary-level facilities. There was no triage area or triage protocol in the emergency rooms, no trained staff for trauma care, no dedicated RTC patient register and scarce life-saving equipment. Only in Dhaka-based tertiary hospitals was trauma care prioritised. These hospitals follow Advanced Trauma Life Support guidelines and maintain an RTC logbook. Emergency diagnostic services were not always available in the hospitals. Most RTC patients were males; the female participants were additionally vulnerable to physical and mental trauma. Affected people avoided taking legal action considering it a lengthy, complicated and ultimately ineffective process.

Conclusion

The trauma care services currently available in the studied health facilities are very rudimentary and without the necessary human and financial resources. This needs urgent attention from policymakers, programmers and practitioners to reduce morbidity and mortality from the current epidemic of RTCs in Bangladesh.

How to extend value-based healthcare to population-based healthcare systems? Defining an outcome-based segmentation model for health authority

Por: Torkki · P. · Leskelä · R.-L. · Mustonen · P. · Linna · M. · Lillrank · P.
Objectives

Value-based healthcare (VBHC) is considered the most promising guiding principle for a new generation of health service production. Many countries have attempted to apply VBHC to managerial and clinical decision-making. However, implementation remains in its infancy and varies between countries. The objective of the study is to help health systems implement a value-based approach by building an outcome-based population segmentation model for health authorities (HAs).

Design

First, we define the principles according to which segmentation models in healthcare could be developed. Second, we merge the theoretical characteristics of outcomes with population segmentation dimensions identified in previous literature and design a flow model that establishes population segments from these combinations. We then estimate the size of the segments based on national register data.

Results

The population can be divided into 10 different segments based on relevant outcomes, goals and the outcome measurement logic. These segments consist of healthy, help, increased risk, mild curable without risk, mild curable with risk, severe curable without risk, severe curable with risk, single chronic, multimorbid and terminal. The representatives of Finnish HAs found the segments meaningful for evaluating and managing the healthcare system towards improved population health.

Conclusions

An outcome-based segmentation model for the entire population is needed if an HA wants to steer the healthcare system employing the principles of VBHC. Segmentation should be based on the outcome measurement logic and outcome measurements relevant to each segment and the number of segments has to be limited.

Continuity of care and consultation mode in general practice: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study using patient-level and practice-level data from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in England

Por: Parry · W. · Fraser · C. · Crellin · E. · Hughes · J. · Vestesson · E. · Clarke · G. M.
Objectives

Investigate trends in continuity of care with a general practitioner (GP) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identify whether continuity of care is associated with consultation mode, controlling for other patient and practice characteristics.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal observational studies.

Setting

Primary care records from 389 general practices participating in Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum in England.

Participants

In the descriptive analysis, 100 000+ patients were included each month between April 2018 and April 2021. Modelling of the association between continuity of care and consultation mode focused on 153 475 and 125 298 patients in index months of February 2020 (before the pandemic) and February 2021 (during the pandemic) respectively, and 76 281 patients in both index months.

Primary and secondary outcomes measures

The primary outcome measure was the Usual Provider of Care index. Secondary outcomes included the Bice-Boxerman index and count of consultations with the most frequently seen GP.

Results

Continuity of care was gradually declining before the pandemic but stabilised during it. There were consistent demographic, socioeconomic and regional differences in continuity of care. An average of 23% of consultations were delivered remotely in the year to February 2020 compared with 76% in February 2021. We found little evidence consultation mode was associated with continuity at the patient level, controlling for a range of covariates. In contrast, patient characteristics and practice-level supply and demand were associated with continuity.

Conclusions

We set out to examine the association of consultation mode with continuity of care but found that GP supply and patient demand were much more important. To improve continuity for patients, primary care capacity needs to increase. This requires sufficient, long-term investment in clinicians, staff, facilities and digital infrastructure. General practice also needs to transform ways of working to ensure continuity for those that need it, even in a capacity-constrained environment.

Organisation of care for people receiving drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment in South Africa: a mixed methods study

Por: Dickson · L. · Le Roux · S. R. · Mitrani · L. · Hill · J. · Jassat · W. · Cox · H. · Mlisana · K. · Black · J. · Loveday · M. · Grant · A. · Kielmann · K. · Ndjeka · N. · Moshabela · M. · Nicol · M.
Objectives

Treatment for multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) is increasingly transitioning from hospital-centred to community-based care. A national policy for decentralised programmatic MDR/RR-TB care was adopted in South Africa in 2011. We explored variations in the implementation of care models in response to this change in policy, and the implications of these variations for people affected by MDR/RR-TB.

Design

A mixed methods study was done of patient movements between healthcare facilities, reconstructed from laboratory records. Facility visits and staff interviews were used to determine reasons for movements.

Participants and setting

People identified with MDR/RR-TB from 13 high-burden districts within South Africa.

Outcome measures

Geospatial movement patterns were used to identify organisational models. Reasons for patient movement and implications of different organisational models for people affected by MDR/RR-TB and the health system were determined.

Results

Among 191 participants, six dominant geospatial movement patterns were identified, which varied in average hospital stay (0–281 days), average patient distance travelled (12–198 km) and number of health facilities involved in care (1–5 facilities). More centralised models were associated with longer delays to treatment initiation and lengthy hospitalisation. Decentralised models facilitated family-centred care and were associated with reduced time to treatment and hospitalisation duration. Responsiveness to the needs of people affected by MDR/RR-TB and health system constraints was achieved through implementation of flexible models, or the implementation of multiple models in a district.

Conclusions

Understanding how models for organising care have evolved may assist policy implementers to tailor implementation to promote particular patterns of care organisation or encourage flexibility, based on patient needs and local health system resources. Our approach can contribute towards the development of a health systems typology for understanding how policy-driven models of service delivery are implemented in the context of variable resources.

Regional variation in the use of revascularisation for peripheral artery disease in Japan: a cross-sectional observational study

Por: Kanda · M. · Kuwabara · H. · Kitahara · H. · Kobayashi · Y. · Inoue · T.
Objectives

We aimed to investigate the regional variations in the number of interventions and surgeries for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and explore the major determinants of the variations.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare National Database and Diagnostic Procedure Combination database in 2018.

Data

The rates of endovascular treatment (EVT), bypass surgery per 100 000 individuals in the population were calculated for all 47 prefectures in Japan. The total annual changes in the rates of EVT and bypass surgery in Japan from 2012 to 2019 were calculated.

Analysis

A linear regression model was developed with rates of EVT and bypass surgery as dependent variables and regional medical supply in each prefecture as explanatory variables. These regional factors included the rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for angina, the numbers of cardiovascular specialists, specialists in cardiac surgery, interventional radiology (IVR) training facilities and cardiovascular surgery training facilities, per 100 000, respectively.

Results

There was a 5.7-fold difference (143 and 25 per 100 000 individuals aged ≥40 years) in the highest and lowest EVT rates. The highest and lowest rates of bypass surgery were 34 and

Conclusions

Considerable regional variations in the rates of revascularisation for PAD were found. Unbalanced presence of medical resources, preference of suppliers and the training system had larger effects on the regional variation in Japan.

Initial prescriptions and medication switches of biological products: an analysis of prescription pathways and determinants in the Swiss healthcare setting

Por: Wirth · K. · Boes · S. · Näpflin · M. · Huber · C. · Blozik · E.
Objectives

Biological products have contributed to extraordinary advances in disease treatments over the last decade. However, the cost-saving potential of imitator products, so-called biosimilars, is still under-researched in Switzerland. This study aims to assess biosimilars’ prescriptions at treatment initiation and their determinants, as well as biological therapy switches.

Design

The study included all patients who had at least one biosimilar available on the market at the time when they were prescribed a biological product. We analysed longitudinal data for biosimilar prescriptions in Switzerland using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to quantify the associations with individual, pharmaceutical and provider-related variables.

Setting

The analysis is based on de-identified claims data of patients with mandatory health insurance at Helsana, one of the Swiss health insurance companies with a substantial enrollee base in mandatory health insurance.

Participants

Overall, 18 953 patients receiving at least one biological product between 2016 and 2021 were identified.

Outcome measures

We differentiated between initial prescriptions and follow-up prescriptions. Our regression focused on initial prescriptions due to evidence indicating that patients tend to follow the medication prescribed at therapy initiation.

Results

Although biosimilars’ market share was low (28.6%), the number of prescriptions has increased (from 1016 in 2016 to 6976 in 2021). Few patients with medication switches (n=1492, 8.5%) were detected. Increased relative price difference (difference in the price of available biosimilars relative to price of corresponding reference product) was associated with decreased probability of biosimilar prescriptions, whereas male sex, an increase of available imitator drugs on the market, larger packaging sizes, and prescriptions from specialists or physicians in outpatient settings were associated with increased biosimilar use.

Conclusion

The low number of biosimilar prescriptions, despite the proliferating biosimilar market, indicates a high potential for biosimilar diffusion. The findings indicate that patients typically adhere to the therapy options initially chosen and are less inclined to make changes following the initiation of treatment. Our research highlights the need for awareness initiatives to improve understanding among patients and physicians, enabling informed, shared decision-making about biosimilar prescriptions.

Organisation and delivery of supportive services for patients with prostate cancer in the National Health Service in England and Wales: a national cross-sectional hospital survey and latent class analysis

Por: Dodkins · J. · Cook · A. · Morris · M. · Nossiter · J. · Prust · S. · Waller · S. · van der Meulen · J. · Aggarwal · A. · Clarke · N. · Payne · H. A.
Objectives

We assessed how often National Health Service (NHS) hospitals reported that they had specific supportive services for patients with prostate cancer available onsite, including nursing support, sexual function and urinary continence services, psychological and genetic counselling, and oncogeriatric services. We identified groups of hospitals with similar patterns of supportive services.

Design/setting

We conducted an organisational survey in 2021 of all NHS hospitals providing prostate cancer services in England and Wales. Latent class analysis grouped hospitals with similar patterns of supportive services.

Results

In 138 hospitals, an advanced prostate cancer nurse was available in 125 hospitals (90.6%), 107 (77.5%) had a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) attending all clinics, 103 (75.7%) had sexual function services, 111 (81.6%) had continence services and 93 (69.4%) psychological counselling. The availability of genetic counselling (41 hospitals, 30.6%) and oncogeriatric services (15 hospitals, 11.0%) was lower. The hospitals could be divided into three groups. The first and largest group of 85 hospitals provided the most comprehensive supportive services onsite: all hospitals had a CNS attending all clinics, 84 (98.8%) sexual function services and 73 (85.9%) continence services. A key characteristic of the second group of 31 hospitals was that none had a CNS attending all clinics. A key characteristic of the third group of 22 hospitals was that none had sexual function services available. The hospitals in the largest group were more likely to run joint clinics (p

Conclusions

There is considerable variation in supportive services for prostate cancer available onsite in NHS hospitals in England and Wales. Availability of genetic counselling and oncogeriatric services is low. The different patterns of supportive services among hospitals demonstrate that initiatives to improve the availability of the entire range of supportive services to all patients should be carefully targeted.

Feasibility of linking universal child and family healthcare and financial counselling: findings from the Australian Healthier Wealthier Families (HWF) mixed-methods study

Por: Price · A. M. H. · White · N. · Burley · J. · Zhu · A. · Contreras-Suarez · D. · Wang · S. · Stone · M. · Trotter · K. · Mrad · M. · Caldwell · J. · Bishop · R. · Chota · S. · Bui · L. · Sanger · D. · Roles · R. · Watts · A. · Samir · N. · Grace · R. · Raman · S. · Kemp · L. · Lingam · R. · Eape
Objectives

‘Healthier Wealthier Families’ (HWF) seeks to reduce financial hardship in the early years by embedding a referral pathway between Australia’s universal child and family health (CFH) services and financial counselling. This pilot study investigated the feasibility and short-term impacts of HWF, adapted from a successful Scottish initiative.

Methods

Setting: CFH services in five sites across two states, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Caregivers of children aged 0–5 years experiencing financial hardship (study-designed screen). Design: Mixed methods. With limited progress using a randomised trial (RCT) design in sites 1–3 (March 2020–November 2021), qualitative interviews with service providers identified implementation barriers including stigma, lack of knowledge of financial counselling, low financial literacy, research burden and pandemic disruption. This informed a simplified RCT protocol (site 4) and direct referral model (no randomisation, pre–post evaluation, site 5) (June 2021–May 2022). Intervention: financial counselling; comparator: usual care (sites 1–4). Feasibility measures: proportions of caregivers screened, enrolled, followed up and who accessed financial counselling. Impact measures: finances (quantitative) and other (qualitative) to 6 months post-enrolment.

Results

355/434 caregivers completed the screen (60%–100% across sites). In RCT sites (1–4), 79/365 (19%–41%) reported hardship but less than one-quarter enrolled. In site 5, n=66/69 (96%) caregivers reported hardship and 44/66 (67%) engaged with financial counselling; common issues were utility debts (73%), and obtaining entitlements (43%) or material aid/emergency relief (27%). Per family, financial counselling increased income from government entitlements by an average $A6504 annually plus $A784 from concessions, grants, brokerage and debt waivers. Caregivers described benefits (qualitative) including reduced stress, practical help, increased knowledge and empowerment.

Conclusions

Financial hardship screening via CFH was acceptable to caregivers, direct referral was feasible, but individual randomisation was infeasible. Larger-scale implementation will require careful, staged adaptations where CFH populations and the intervention are well matched and low burden evaluation.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12620000154909.

Health system barriers to timely routine measles vaccinations in rural southwest China: a qualitative study on the perspectives of township vaccination professionals and village doctors

Por: Cheng · M. · Lan · T. · Geater · A. · Deng · Q.-Y. · Lin · Y.-D. · Jiang · L.-Y. · Chen · N. · Zhu · M.-T. · Li · Q. · Tang · X.-Y.
Objectives

A well-functioning health system ensures timely routine measles vaccinations for age-appropriate children, minimising measles risk. However, there is limited knowledge about the impact of the performance of immunisation programmes in health systems on the timeliness of measles vaccination. This study aimed to identify health system barriers to timely routine measles vaccination in rural southwest China, integrating the perspectives of township vaccination professionals and village doctors.

Design, setting and participants

Qualitative study among township vaccination professionals and village doctors in rural Guangxi, southwest China.

Methods

20 focus group discussions (FGDs) at township level and 120 in-depth interviews (IDIs) at village level, based on a four-theme framework. We used convenience sampling to recruit 60 township vaccination professionals and 120 village doctors in 2015. Instruments used were a semistructured questionnaire and interview outlines. We collected township and village-level data focusing on themes of health resources allocation, pattern of vaccination services, management and supervision of vaccination services, and perceptions of vaccination policy. The FGDs and IDIs were audio-recorded and transcribed. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach was adopted to synthesise findings into meaningful subthemes, narrative text and illustrative quotations.

Results

The health system barriers to timely routine vaccinations were explored across four themes. Barriers in the health resources allocation theme comprised (1) inadequacy of vaccination-related human resources (eg, lack of township vaccination professionals and lack of young village doctors), and (2) incompatible and non-identical information system of vaccination services across regions. Barriers in the pattern of vaccination services theme included inflexible vaccination services models, for example, routine vaccination services being offered monthly on fixed vaccination days, limited numbers of vaccination days per month, vaccination days being set on non-local market days, vaccination days being clustered into a specific period and absence of formal vaccination appointments. Ineffective economic incentive mechanism was identified as a barrier in the management and supervision of vaccination services theme. Low-degree participation of village doctors in routine vaccination services was identified as a barrier in the perceptions of vaccination policy theme.

Conclusions

We encourage policymakers and stakeholders to apply these findings to improve the timeliness of routine vaccination. Barriers to timely routine vaccination include inadequate allocation of vaccination-related resources and inflexible vaccination service delivery models. Financial and non-financial incentives should be used to retain and recruit vaccination professionals and village doctors. Strengthening information systems with unified data standards enables cross-regional data exchange. Optimising immunisation services and rationalising vaccination days could eliminate health system barriers and improve vaccination timeliness in rural China.

Factors associated with uptake of human papillomavirus vaccination among adolescent girls in Mettu town, southwest Ethiopia: a school-based cross-sectional study

Por: Dawud · A. · Kera · A. M. · Bekele · D. · Hiko · D. · Zewdie · A.
Objective

This study was designed to assess the level of uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and its associated factors among school-age adolescent girls.

Design

School-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

High schools in Mettu town, southwest Ethiopia, from 5 February to 10 March 2022.

Participants

Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews with 667 adolescent girls selected via multistage random sampling. Data were entered into EpiData V.3.1 and exported to SPSS V.26 for analysis. Simple binary logistic regression was done, and variables with a p value less than 0.25 were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model; variables with a p value

Results

About half (48.6%) of adolescent girls aged 14–18 years had received the HPV vaccine. Being in the 16–18 years age group (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.50 to 4.80), having good knowledge (2.14, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.52), having a positive attitude (5.86, 95% CI 3.51 to 9.76), and getting encouragement from healthcare workers (3.04, 95% CI 1.36 to 6.79), teachers (2.14, 95% CI 1.05 to 4.34) and parents (2.39, 95% CI 1.02 to 5.64) were significantly associated with vaccine uptake.

Conclusion

The uptake of HPV vaccination was low. Having good knowledge and positive attitude as well as encouragement from parents, healthcare workers and teachers were identified as factors associated with HPV vaccine uptake. Improving knowledge about HPV and involving teachers and parents in the immunisation campaign might help promote HPV vaccine uptake.

COVID-19 anxiety and related factors amid adjusted epidemic prevention policies: a cross-sectional study on patients with late-life depression in China

Por: Wu · J. · Qiu · L. · Xiong · W. · Shen · Y. · Li · J. · Wu · J. · Zhou · Q.
Objectives

To explore the prevalence and associated factors of COVID-19 anxiety in patients with late-life depression (LLD) during the adjustment of epidemic prevention policies in China.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The data analysed in this study were collected from seven regions in China between November 2022 and January 2023.

Participants

A total of 1205 patients with LLD (aged 60–78 years) participated in the survey. They completed a social demographic assessment and the Chinese version of the five-point Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS).

Primary outcome measures

The primary outcome was the anxiety level of the participants. Patients were categorised into two groups based on their anxiety levels, one with anxiety and one without, according to CAS scores.

Results

The prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety in depressed older adults was 47.3%. Regression analysis revealed that the average COVID-19 anxiety score was significantly higher among females (AOR: 2.177, 95% CI 1.201 to 3.947), widowed individuals (AOR: 3.015, 95% CI 1.379 to 6.591), patients residing at a distance from healthcare facilities (AOR: 3.765, 95% CI 1.906 to 7.438), and those who frequently experienced worry (AOR: 1.984, 95% CI 1.111 to 3.543). Conversely, the anxiety score was significantly lower among divorced individuals (AOR: 0.491, 95% CI 0.245 to 0.988), those aged 70 years and above (AOR: 0.117, 95% CI 0.064 to 0.213), patients without difficulty obtaining medication (AOR: 0.027, 95% CI 0.007 to 0.097), those living with family members (AOR: 0.080, 95% CI 0.022 to 0.282) or in nursing homes compared with those living alone (AOR: 0.019, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.087).

Conclusion

Women with LLD who are widowed, live far from healthcare facilities, and are prone to excessive worry are more likely to experience anxiety. It is advisable to implement appropriate preventive measures and provide psychosocial support programmes for this vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of womens literacy status on maternal healthcare services utilisation in Ethiopia: a stratified analysis of the 2019 mini Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

Por: Handebo · S. · Demie · T. G. · Gessese · G. T. · Woldeamanuel · B. T. · Biratu · T. D.
Objectives

Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high in sub-Saharan Africa with 533 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, accounting for 68% of all maternal deaths worldwide. Most maternal deaths could be prevented by adequate maternal health service use. The study examined the effect of literacy status on maternal health services utilisation among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Settings

Ethiopia.

Participants

A weighted sample of 3839 reproductive-age women who gave birth in the last 5 years preceding the survey and whose literacy status was measured were included in this study. The survey used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

This study used a dataset from the recent Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Surveys. We assessed the maternal health service utilisation among reproductive-age women. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the association between literacy status and maternal healthcare utilisation while controlling for other factors. Adjusted OR with a 95% CI was reported.

Results

About 63.8% of reproductive-age women were illiterate. The prevalence of antenatal care (ANC) 1, ANC 4, skilled birth attendance and postnatal care (PNC) services utilisation was 74.9%, 43.5%, 51.9% and 32.0%, respectively. Literate women had significantly higher ANC 1, ANC 4, skilled birth attendance, and PNC services utilisation than illiterate women (p

Conclusion

Literate women had a significantly higher maternal healthcare services utilisation than illiterate, modified by sociodemographic and obstetric-related factors. Hence, wholehearted efforts should be directed towards educating and empowering women.

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