Administrative Assistance Research Articles

Pendekatan Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) dalam Operasi Logistik : Studi Kasus Operasi Amfibi TNI Angkatan Laut

Along with the development of naval technology, the roles, tasks and functions of the support of the Motorized Transport Battalion (Yon Angmor) have the complexity and dynamics of movement in supporting the implementation of Amphibious Operations, which are very important and have high traffic. In this study, conducted to identify and analyze organizational readiness, readiness in the field of Operations as an element of Satbanmin, and the readiness in the field of Logistics as an element of Satbanmin in the implementation of Amphibious Operations. The results of the measurement using SEM AMOS 23 software from the measurement model of the three variables of operational readiness, organizational readiness and logistical support readiness that affect administrative assistance support, that the operational readiness variable produces the highest value of 0.566. This means that the implementation of the operational readiness of the Yon Angmor in supporting administrative assistance in Amphibious operations can be carried out optimally and according to SOPs, despite having obstacles and problems in organizational readiness. So, to answer the existing problems, the Yon Angmor needs to plan the formation of an organization through organizational validation, as well as calculating risk management in supporting administrative assistance in the implementation of comprehensive amphibious.

Creation of a surgical service line to treat patients with recurrent gynecologic cancer with curative intent: Complex oncologic multidisciplinary pelvic surgery (COMPS) (559)

Creation of a surgical service line to treat patients with recurrent gynecologic cancer with curative intent: Complex oncologic multidisciplinary pelvic surgery (COMPS) (559)

Survey of Canadian urology residency programs: Perception of virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many residency programs to pivot from traditional face-to-face to virtual teaching. The objective of this study was to assess the state of virtual education in Canadian urology programs and gauge interest in a national virtual curriculum. An electronic 15-item survey was distributed to all 13 Canadian urology programs' directors and administrative assistants for circulation to residents. Data collection took place over six weeks from September to November 2020. A mixed-methods approach was used, including descriptive statistics and an inductive thematic analysis of responses to open-ended questions. Eleven program directors and 32 residents from all four geographic areas (Atlantic, Ontario, Quebec, Western [MB, AB, BC]) responded to the survey. Overall, 95.3% of respondents indicated a role for virtual education in their program during the pandemic. Most respondents (74.4%) believe there is a significant or very significant role for a virtual national urology curriculum. All program directors indicated they are at least somewhat likely to require resident participation in such a curriculum. Most (90.6%) resident respondents indicated they believe such a curriculum will be at least somewhat important to their learning. Commonly described benefits include exposure to subspecialties, expertise at other institutions, and standardization of teaching. Commonly described barriers include difficulty with engagement, time zone differences, and lack of dedicated time for attendance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual education has become well-integrated in Canadian urology programs. This study highlights interest in the development of a national virtual urology curriculum and puts forth some key considerations to ensure its success.

Pengelolaan Desa Wisata Pandanrejo Menuju Desapreneur

Management of Pandanrejo Tourism Village towards Desapreneur. Pandanrejo Tourism Village develops desapreneurs through village entrepreneur groups and membership, product/service capacity and quality, financial and administrative management, village development and assistance, marketing and promotion benchmarking, breadth of impact and sustainability. This study aimed to determine the management of the Pandanrejo Tourism Village and the potential and development of the Pandanrejo Tourism Village as a Desapreneur. This research was conducted using qualitative research methods, with data collection using structured interviews with tourism village managers, UMKM managers, UMKM actors, and village governments. The results showed that the management of the Pandanrejo Tourism Village has economically, socially, culturally, educationally, and environmentally, the highest benefit is provided by the social sector. Meanwhile, the economic benefits have not been felt optimally. Efforts to make the Pandanrejo Tourism Village a desapreneur include developing desapreneurs through the following aspects: group and membership of village entrepreneurs, product/service capacity and quality, financial and administrative management, village development and assistance, marketing and promotion benchmarking, breadth of impact and sustainability.

Counteraction to customs offenses in the international and Ukrainian regulatory framework

The article analyzes international legislation in the field of counteraction to customs offenses. Attention is paid to the consideration of the activities of international institutions that have formed a layer of regulatory and legal support for the customs sphere, in particular, the World Trade Organization, the World Customs Organization. The peculiarities of customs deviances in the context of the International Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in the Treatment, Investigation and Termination of Violations of Customs Legislation have been determined. It was clarified that in accordance with the norms of the Johannesburg Convention, special measures of interaction and counteraction to customs offenses are used: supervision, controlled delivery, involvement of experts and witnesses, joint control and investigation teams and others. The normative and legal aspects of stimulation of subjects of foreign economic activity not to violate customs rules through granting the status of authorized economic operators are analyzed. The legal basis for the work of the mechanism for combating customs offenses in the EU, in particular in the context of primary and secondary EU legislation, is investigated. It is established that the harmonization of international customs legislation and Ukraine is carried out in two main vectors: in accordance with the basic norms of international law and in accordance with the regulations and standards of regulation of the EU.

Impacto Laboral da Perturbação Obsessivo-Compulsiva: Caso Clínico

Introduction Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric pathology, classically considered chronic and debilitating because of the significant impact it can have on overall patient functionality, including at work. Its etiology is still unclear, and the clinical presentation is quite heterogeneous, manifesting itself through obsessions and/or compulsions that are associated with high levels of anxiety and time consumption. Case Report A 40-year-old female, working as an administrative assistant in a hospital, with a history of almost 20 years of obsessive doubt and verification rituals. Due to the worsening of symptoms, and their high impact on work capacity, she started a psychiatry follow-up. Then, according to the employee’s expectations and limitations, she was transferred to a different workstation, with less social interactions and different responsibilities. Subsequently, after both interventions, significant clinical improvement was shown. Discussion The close relationship between Occupational Medicine and Psychiatry, unequivocally contributes to manage mental illness in the workplace, either identifying reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of workers with mental illness, or attending the ones noticed during their regular activities. Conclusion It is essential to implement strategies for effective communication between both medical specialities, and aim to prevent occupational risks, by protecting and promoting healthy workplaces. Keywords: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Psychiatry, Occupational Health.

The OECD/G20 Global Minimum Tax and Dispute Resolution: A Workable Solution Based on Article 25(3) of the OECD Model, the Principle of Reciprocity and the GloBE Model Rules The authors wish to thank the anonymous peer reviewers for their comments as well as the editor-in-chief of the World Tax Journal, Professor Pasquale Pistone, for the opportunity to publish in this

The implementation of the G20/OECD global minimum tax (“GloBE”) raises an immediate and practical challenge in terms of dispute resolution. On the one hand, the GloBE framework will require an unprecedented degree of coordination between jurisdictions with naturally a high potential for bilateral and multilateral disputes. On the other hand, it is foreseen that the GloBE rules will not be incorporated into a Multilateral Convention. Rather, the GloBE architecture will be exclusively transposed into domestic laws through so-called “model rules”. Therefore, at least in an initial phase, no ad hoc international binding dispute resolution mechanism will be available to solve GloBE disputes. In order to address this pressing challenge, this article proposes a readily workable solution to solve GloBE disputes without the need for a Multilateral Convention. The model advocated here consists in a (i) reinforced interpretation of article 25(3) second sentence of the OECD Model on the basis of a subsequent practice (article 31(3)(b) of the VCLT), (ii) a domestic dispute resolution mechanism incorporated into the model rules and mirroring article 25(3) of the OECD Model which would also (iii) apply to non-treaty situations on the basis of the principle of reciprocity and which would (iv) rely on the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The authors find that the proposed framework is particularly in line with the object and purpose of the GloBE Model Rules which are to operate between jurisdictions as “mirror legislations” and in a synchronized fashion. This solution may also be combined with other mechanisms currently discussed to simplify and enhance the certainty of the GloBE framework for both MNE groups and tax administrations.

Feasibility of a centralized specialty biologic medication management clinic at a VA hospital

BackgroundGiven the cost and complexity of home subcutaneous biologic use, a centralized specialty medication management (CSMM) service was developed utilizing clinical pharmacist practitioners (CPPs). ObjectiveTo determine the implementation feasibility of the CSMM service. Practice descriptionThe CSMM service was implemented in a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospital. The VHA does not use dedicated specialty pharmacies. Practice innovationThe CSMM service was developed utilizing CPPs who operated as an advance practice provider under a national VHA scope of practice. The CPP staffing the CSMM service performed patient education, screened for medication appropriateness, and monitored for safety and efficacy via videoconference or telephone. All patients newly starting a home subcutaneous biologic were offered the service from allergy, cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and rheumatology clinics, as appropriate. Evaluation methodsA retrospective chart review was completed through the first year the service was offered, which included the recruitment and retention of patients, number of follow-up appointments, and interventions made. ResultsOf the 68 patients offered clinic enrollment, 54 were enrolled in the service (79.4%). Of the 44 who had completed an initial appointment with the CPP, 42 had either received an initial follow-up or were scheduled for a follow-up (95.5%). A total of 161 clinical outcomes have been performed by the CSMM CPP including administrative assistance (33.5%), initial patient education (17.4%), technique correction (7.5%), and medication changes or discontinuations (6.8%). ConclusionGiven the high rate of enrollment and retention, the implementation of the CSMM service at a VA hospital was feasible. The service contributed to safe and effective medication use for enrolled patients and continues to grow in both patient enrollment and services offered.

MO926: Development and Implementation of an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome System to Support Health-Related Quality of Life Management in a Large, European Dialysis Network

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) may help personalize healthcare for dialysis patients. ePROMs allow patients to self-report their symptoms and disease burden remotely and make the data available to healthcare professionals (HCP) in real-time. Such information can be used for digital phenotyping, symptoms and disease burden monitoring and to enable personalized healthcare through improved outcomes prediction, as well as Screen and Act, N-of-1 trials and treat-to-target approaches. However, routine use of ePROM in clinical practice presents several challenges, including respondent burden and a lack of clear guidance on medical and psycho-educational intervention in response to patients’ complains. We sought to implement a quality improvement programme based on ePROM management in a large network of dialysis patients. METHOD ePROM were collected as part of a screen and act programme launched for the first time in all centres belonging to the Fresenius Medical Care (FMC) Nephrocare network in France (FR), Italy (IT), Spain (SP), UK and Ireland (IR) starting on 20 September 2021. The screening phase ended on 4 December 2021. The action phase is still ongoing. The programme aims at screening all dialysis patients for undetected quality of life and adjustment problems and allow physicians, at their sole discretion, to provide remediation actions potentially including adjustment of treatment plan based on revision of patients’ clinical charts and administration of health education modules. The questionnaire included KDQOL-36, the 5D-Itch questionnaire and an ad hoc module on intradialytic symptoms, and its content was mapped to SONG-HD initiative endpoints. ePROM were collected at the bedside or at patients’ home with a web application available for tablet and smartphones either as self-report or assisted self-report. All ePROM data were recorded in EuCLiD®, the clinical information systems adopted by FMC Nephrocare clinics, as part of patients’ clinical chart. A dashboard displaying patients’ scores was shown to the attending healthcare professional upon survey completion. Statistics about patients’ engagement, scores and action alerts are presented in clinical reports. In the present analysis, we report a retrospective analysis of data abstracted from the EuCliD® database. RESULTS Overall, 152 centres (93%) joined the campaign. Participation statistics across countries are reported in Fig. 1. Among 11 537 active patients treated in the five participating countries, 1553 were ineligible because belonging to non-participating centres, temporarily transferred to other centres outside the network (i.e. vacation, rehabilitation, etc.), hospitalized, or because they were considered unable to respond to the survey (i.e. language barrier, inability to read and write or cognitive impairment). Around 23% (IT) to 30% (FR) were considered eligible with assisted administration only. Attrition rate ranged from 3% (IT) to 15% (FR). Item missingness was <2% for all items throughout the survey except for the item on sexual activity (>10% in all countries). KDQOL-36 scores are reported in Fig. 2; 22.5% reported moderate to very severe pruritus mostly distributed on the head/scalp, chest, abdomen, back, lower legs and thighs, forearm and upper arm (all >30% prevalence). Between 10% (IT) and 20% (UK) reported any complications during their last dialysis session, and between 6% (SP) and 12% (IR) suspended or interrupted treatment because of their symptoms. Prevalence of recovery time >3 h ranged from 34.8% (FR) to 46.4% (IR). CONCLUSION The ePROM quality improvement campaign attained wide participation and low attrition. We found no evidence of respondent burden given the low missingness rate throughout the survey items. The screening phase allowed to collect and organize a wealth of patient-reported outcomes amenable of medical or psycho-educational interventions.

Vklad zhitelej Arhangel'skoj gubernii v uspekh rossijsko-shvedskoj ekspedicii po gradusnomu izmereniyu na arhipelage Shpicbergen v konce XIX — nachale XX v.

The publication is devoted to certain aspects of the preparation and conduct of the Russian-Swedish scientific expedition to the Spitsbergen (Svalbard) archipelago in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. It was prepared on the basis of documents from the State Archive of the Arkhangelsk region, some of which publish for the first time. It tells about the assistance of the Arkhangelsk provincial administration to the Commission for degree measurement on the islands of Spitsbergen of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In 1899 warm clothes for the participants of expedition were made in a short time in Arkhangelsk; in 1899 and 1900 residents of the province - “reliable Pomors” - were hired to work in the extreme conditions of Spitsbergen (Svalbard); in 1902-1903, 24 residents of the province were awarded by commemorative badges.

IMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM SEMBAKO

Poor people in Indonesia finds difficulties in fulfilling their nutritional food needs. The Ministry of Social Affairs has implemented “sembako” program aimed at reducing the burden of the poor and vulnerable people in fulfilling some main food items. This research aims to describe the implementation of “sembako” program in Lebak Regency, Banten Province. This research regarding the implementation of “sembako” program is based on theory of policy implementation that emphasizes six dimensions, namely standards and objectives, resources, characteristics of implementing agencies, disposition of implementors, interorganizational commu-nication, and economic, social and political conditions. This research uses descriptive-qualitative method. Samples of this research are drawn on purposive and snowball sampling. The collection of data uses interview, observation, literature study, and documentation. The collected data are qualitatively described. Results of this research indicate that the implementation of “sembako” program in Lebak Regency, Banten Province, is not optimally conducted on dimensions of standards and objectives, resources, characteristics of implementing agencies, disposition of implementors, interorganizational communication, and economic, social and political conditions. Some causes are related to the lack of discipline of the local government apparatus, the lack of people’s awareness in completing assistance administration, the lack of inter-implementor coordination and communication, the occurrence of social jealousy because of poor people that do not obtain assistance yet, and the presence of political motives in selecting e-Warong and poor people that obtain assistance.

A Systematic Literature Review on Tax Evasion: Insights and Future Research Agenda

Emerging research studies in the subject of tax evasion have selected a variety of factors to verify their influence on the intentional non-compliance behaviour (tax evasion). However, a holistic review of tax evasion covering global literatures remains elusive. Therefore, this paper intends to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to review the existing articles in the past 10 years, encapsulating 100 papers starting from 2010, in which Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) established the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters in order to reduce tax evasion with the help of collaborated network. The review articulates those existing studies have limited their exploration within individual and economic related factors, but less focused on the other variables such as digitalization of public services, corporate social responsibility, and whistle-blowing efforts. This paper also exhibits the avenues for future researchers in the subject of tax evasion.

Interprofessional collaboration in the renal care settings: Experiences in the COVID-19 era.

The role of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in healthcare is increasingly emphasized. Due to significant comorbidity in renal patients who require highly specialized procedures, proper IPC is an essential component in renal care. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the existing and proven collaboration mechanisms were put to the test. To assess IPC in the renal care settings in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. The survey consisted of the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale II (AITCS-II) (3 subscales - partnership, cooperation and coordination, maximum of 5 points), questions about work conditions and factors influencing work during the pandemic, as well as demographic data. The survey was distributed in 8 renal care settings (4 hospital wards with dialysis units and 4 individual dialysis units); 127 participants filled out the survey; 26.8% of participants were physicians, 68.5% nurses and 4.7% other staff members, i.e., administrative assistants. Mean work experience in their current team was 16.8 ±11.7 years among nurses and 11.6 ±9.7 years among physicians. Interprofessional collaboration was assessed by physicians and nurses, respectively, as follows: partnership 4.03 ±0.79 compared to 3.58 ±0.73 (p = 0.003), cooperation 4.28 ±0.59 compared to 3.71 ±0.72 (p = 0.0002), and coordination 3.83 ±0.87 compared to 3.48 ±0.82 (p = 0.04). The specific workplace did not influence the IPC rates; 49.9% of physicians and 40.1% of nurses agreed or strongly agreed that the collaboration worsened during the pandemic; 47% of physicians and 42.4% of nurses admitted that the communication has significantly deteriorated. An increased level of stress, new procedures and fear of getting infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were, according to the participants, the most significant factors for the worsening of IPC. The exceptional circumstances faced during the pandemic have a significant impact on IPC, which may influence patients' satisfaction and safety. An active support for healthcare teams in the field of IPC is especially important in this challenging reality.

Describing the linkage between administrative social assistance and health care databases in Ontario, Canada

BackgroundThe linkage of records across administrative databases has become a powerful tool to increase information available to undertake research and analytics in a privacy protective manner. ObjectiveThe objective of this paper was to describe the data integration strategy used to link the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS)-Social Assistance (SA) database with administrative health care data. MethodsDeterministic and probabilistic linkage methods were used to link the MCCSS-SA database (2003-2016) to the Registered Persons Database, a population registry containing data on all individuals issued a health card number in Ontario, Canada. Linkage rates were estimated, and the degree of record linkage and representativeness of the dataset were evaluated by comparing socio-demographic characteristics of linked and unlinked records. ResultsThere were a total of 2,736,353 unique member IDs in the MCCSS-SA database from the 1st January 2003 to 31st December 2016; 331,238 (12.1%) were unlinked (linkage rate = 87.9%). Despite 16 passes, most record linkages were obtained after 2 deterministic (76.2%) and 14 probabilistic passes (11.7%). Linked and unlinked samples were similar for most socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, rural dwelling), except migrant status (non-migrant versus migrant) (standardized difference of 0.52). Linked and unlinked records were also different for SA program-specific characteristics, such as social assistance program, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program (standardized difference of 0.20 for each), data entry system, Service Delivery Model Technology only and both Service Delivery Model Technology and Social Assistance Management System (standardized difference of 0.53 and 0.52, respectively), and months on social assistance (standardized difference of 0.43). ConclusionsAdditional techniques to account for sub-optimal linkage rates may be required to address potential biases resulting from this data linkage. Nonetheless, the linkage between administrative social assistance and health care data will provide important findings on the social determinants of health.

PENDAMPINGAN PEMANFAATAN GOOGLE FORM UNTUK MENDUKUNG ADMINISTRASI PKK KELURAHAN BEJI KECAMATAN UNGARAN TIMUR

Semarang Regency which has 19 sub-districts and 27 villages is an area with the industrial sector which is the largest contributor to the economy. So, the majority of the population is factory workers. The industrial center is in the Ungaran area which is the administrative center. Beji Village is one of the villages in the East Ungaran sub-district where the majority of the people work in industry. The majority of the workers are mothers. These women also participate in PKK activities, which are community activities that are held once a month. Because of their performance, the majority are factory workers, so that the administration in PKK activities still needs a lot of assistance. With administrative assistance, especially to make the work of these women more effective, the Google Form can be their solution as PKK movers to collect citizen data as PKK administrative data material.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and assessment of epidemiologic determinants in Portuguese municipal workers.

To assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in municipal employees of Northern Portugal during the first pandemic wave (May-June 2020) and its association with potentially related risk factors for infection. The authors assessed municipal employees of 2 cities in Northern Portugal, in whom serological tests to SARS-CoV-2 and an epidemiological survey were applied. The authors assessed the proportion of individuals presenting IgM and/or IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, and evaluated the association between having positive serological test results, epidemiologic variables and clinical presentations. Reported symptoms were evaluated on their sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. The authors assessed 1696 employees, of whom 22.0% were firefighters, 10.4% were police officers, 10.3% were maintenance workers, and 8.1% were administrative assistants. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 2.9% (95% CI: 2.1-3.7%). Administrative assistants comprised the professional group with highest seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 1.9 in the comparison with other occupational groups, 95% CI: 0.8-4.3, p = 0.126). The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among those who were in direct contact with COVID-19 patients in their professional activity was 3.9%, compared to 2.7% among those who were not in direct contact with such patients (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.8-2.8, p = 0.222). The highest risk of infection was associated with the presence of a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the household (OR = 17.4, 95% CI: 8.3-36.8, p < 0.001). Living with a healthcare professional was not associated with a higher risk of infection (OR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.4-2.5, p = 0.934). Anosmia/ dysgeusia was the symptom with the highest positive predictive value (52.2%, 95% CI: 31.8-72.6, p < 0.001) and specificity (99.3%, 95% CI: 98.9-99.7, p < 0.001), while cough was the most prevalent symptom among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive participants (36%). The authors observed a SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 2.9% among assessed municipal employees. Anosmia/dysgeusia was the COVID-19 symptom which displayed the highest positive predictive value and specificity. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(3):297-307.

The Shoemaker and the Gibson Girl

The Shoemaker and the Gibson Girl

The Simplification of Procedures in Portuguese Administrative Law

The present paper intends to provide an overview and a critical assessment of the administrative simplification policies implemented in Portugal over the past 20+ years. Throughout these decades, the major instruments for administrative simplification have been: (i) Decree-Law n. 135/99, of 22 April; (ii) the Simplex programme; (iii) the 2015 new Code of Administrative Procedure and its 2021 amendment; and (iv) the COVID-19 legislation. Although Decree-Law n. 135/99 (i) was the first attempt to specifically address simplification, it was a very thin one. The Simplex programme (ii), created in 2006, was the first cross-sectoral robust policy of simplification; its motto is “the simpler the better” and it encompassed reforms in all government areas aiming at cutting red tape, promoting administrative efficiency, and making the citizens’ and the corporations’ lives easier when dealing with State. The new Code of Administrative Procedure (iii), approved in 2015, brought about specific normative solutions to simplify procedures, namely, prior communications, administrative assistance, procedural conferences, and the electronic one-stop shop. Finally, the COVID-19 legislation (iv) was made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic and by the fact that public health restrictions made it impossible for citizens to establish personal contact with the administration in many cases.

Describing the linkage between administrative social assistance and health care databases in Ontario, Canada.

BackgroundThe linkage of records across administrative databases has become a powerful tool to increase information available to undertake research and analytics in a privacy protective manner.ObjectiveThe objective of this paper was to describe the data integration strategy used to link the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS)-Social Assistance (SA) database with administrative health care data.MethodsDeterministic and probabilistic linkage methods were used to link the MCCSS-SA database (2003-2016) to the Registered Persons Database, a population registry containing data on all individuals issued a health card number in Ontario, Canada. Linkage rates were estimated, and the degree of record linkage and representativeness of the dataset were evaluated by comparing socio-demographic characteristics of linked and unlinked records.ResultsThere were a total of 2,736,353 unique member IDs in the MCCSS-SA database from the 1st January 2003 to 31st December 2016; 331,238 (12.1%) were unlinked (linkage rate = 87.9%). Despite 16 passes, most record linkages were obtained after 2 deterministic (76.2%) and 14 probabilistic passes (11.7%). Linked and unlinked samples were similar for most socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, rural dwelling), except migrant status (non-migrant versus migrant) (standardized difference of 0.52). Linked and unlinked records were also different for SA program-specific characteristics, such as social assistance program, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program (standardized difference of 0.20 for each), data entry system, Service Delivery Model Technology only and both Service Delivery Model Technology and Social Assistance Management System (standardized difference of 0.53 and 0.52, respectively), and months on social assistance (standardized difference of 0.43).ConclusionsAdditional techniques to account for sub-optimal linkage rates may be required to address potential biases resulting from this data linkage. Nonetheless, the linkage between administrative social assistance and health care data will provide important findings on the social determinants of health.

The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on sickness absenteeism among hospital workers.

Introduction:Worker illness and, more recently, infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can manifest as sickness absence, considerably increasing absenteeism rates, which were already rising.Objectives:To determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on sickness absence rates among hospital workers and on the costs associated with them.Methods:A cross-sectional study with 1,229 workers at a University Hospital in the South of Brazil. Data were collected from absenteeism records for the period from September 2014 to December 2020 held in the Occupational Health Service database. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results:The mean sickness absenteeism rate was 3.25% and a significant increase was observed during the pandemic (5.10%) when compared to the pre-pandemic period (2.97%) (p = 0.02). During the pandemic, the mean number of sickness absence days was 2.03 times greater and the mean daily cost increased 2.49 times. Administrative assistants had the lowest relative risk (RR) of infection (RR: 0.5120; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.2628-0.9974). In turn, the nursing team (RR: 1.37; 95%CI 1.052-1.787), physiotherapists (RR: 1.7148; 95%CI 1.0434-2.8183), and speech therapists (RR: 2.7090; 95%CI 1.5550-4.7195) were at greatest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Conclusions:The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to an increase in sickness absence among workers in a hospital setting. The nursing team, physiotherapists, and speech therapists were at greatest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.