Catch-up Strategy Research Articles

Inequalities in education in the COVID-19 pandemic: health and education professionals’ perspectives

Abstract Background Cycles of school closure and reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with remote learning, led to concerns about increasing inequality in education that persist in 2024. The aim of this abstract, within a wider study of safe school reopening, is to explore health and education professionals’ perceptions of inequalities among students during the pandemic. Methods In 2021, online semi-structured interviews were conducted in 6 languages with education and health professionals. They explored the: 1-effect of the pandemic on schools/pupils/teachers; 2-reorganisation of schools; 3-experience of implementing infection control measures in schools; 4-intersectoral working; 5-important resources for keeping schools open. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English where needed. A deductive qualitative analysis was undertaken using the conceptual framework developed by the United Nations H6+ Technical Working Group on Adolescent Health and Well-Being. Domain 3 (safety and supportive environment) includes consideration of equality. Results 62 interviews were included in the analysis (22 health and 40 education professionals from 28 countries). Professionals perceived greater negative impact on education for specific groups of students. Those with chronic illness stayed out of school for longer than others. Good access to distance learning was difficult for students from rural areas (lack of internet/electricity), disadvantaged families (lack of electronic equipment) or larger families (less learning space at home). Conclusions Professionals perceived that school closures intensified the disadvantage experienced by certain groups of students, exacerbating inequalities in education. Targeted catch-up strategies are still needed. Key messages • School closure during the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated inequalities in education. • In future health crisis impacting schooling, targeted catch-up strategies would be needed for certain groups of students.

Promoting vaccination for newly arrived migrants: a multistakeholder collaboration pilot

Abstract Access to vaccinations for Newly Arrived Migrants (NAMs) is a critical public health issue. In the context of the project ‘Increased Access for Newly Arrived Migrants-AcToVax4NAM’ (Grant No. 101018349, 3rd EU Health Program), DPHID-SAP and GLOB-ISS conducted a pilot aimed at developing and testing a system pathway to promote and vaccinate NAMs. The pilot began with the creation of a team between researchers from DPHID-SAP and GLOB-ISS, professionals from two services of the Local Health Authority and from a first reception centre (CAS) in Rome area. An integrated knowledge translation approach was used, which facilitated the collaborative development of strategies and actions of the pilot. The team then reached out to other ‘professionals FOR health’ involved in the vaccination process of NAMs, i.e. physicians from Temporarily Present Foreigners (STP) outpatient clinics, General Practitioners and Pediatricians. Between July 2023 and April 2024, four actions were developed. 1) analysis of the current access of NAMs to vaccination services and the subsequent development of a contextualized pathway to facilitate vaccinations for NAMs, including catch-up strategies; 2) identification of informed consent and other materials needed to be included in the pathway; subsequently, translated in 10 languages; 3) implementation of vaccine literacy session for CAS staff and NAMs; 4) improvement of immunization information flows to enable assessment of vaccination coverage of NAMs. To evaluate the pilot, the vaccination rate observed during the pilot (January-April 2024) was compared to that occurring in 2023, showing a 36.5-fold increase in the vaccination rate (4 x 100 person-year in 2023 and 155 x 100 p/y in 2024; RR = 36.5 (95%CI 14.6-117.6). The pilot highlighted that a research collaborative approach among various actors facilitated the access to vaccination for NAMs and was an opportunity to turn knowledge into action. Key messages • It is essential to ensure equitable vaccination coverage to reduce under-immunized groups. • Access to vaccination is a key element of the right to health and for collective health protection and it should be a shared responsibility.

Abstract C129: Adapting to disruption?: Changes in colorectal cancer screening modalities and disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Research Objective: At-home colorectal cancer screening methods, such as Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT), offered a safer, convenient alternative to in-clinic procedures like colonoscopies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Racial and ethnic minorities were more likely to use these tests prior to the pandemic, but it is unclear whether disparities in colorectal cancer screening changed because of the pandemic. We examined rates of colorectal cancer screening before and after shutdown periods across race/ethnicity, age, and income among health plan enrollees in the United States to inform screening catch-up strategies after COVID-19 disruptions. Study Design: We conducted a retrospective analysis of cancer screening claims from Optum Clinformatics Data Mart among enrollees from 2019-2021. Monthly screening volume was calculated for a three-year period, with January 2019-February 2020 as the pre-pandemic period, and July 2020-December 2021 as the post-pandemic period. We conducted an event study to calculate group-level monthly predicted probabilities of screening using a linear probability model with group interactions by month, controlling for demographic variables and comorbidities. Additionally, we used difference-in-difference (DD) regressions including group interacted with a post-pandemic dummy. The pandemic closure period months were excluded from our DD analysis. Eligible enrollees included those ages 40-75 with continuous enrollment 12 months prior to screening index month. Colorectal cancer screening claims included codes for colonoscopies and other endoscopic procedures as well as FIT and FOBT tests. Results: 2,576,760 health plan enrollees were included. Colonoscopy rates did not change significantly between the pre-COVID period and post-COVID period, however FIT test screening rates dropped from an average of 0.66% of age-eligible enrollees screened per month in the pre-pandemic period to 0.58%. Our difference-in-difference results suggested Hispanic-NH White disparities in FIT tests widened. For colonoscopy, Hispanic-NH White and Asian-White disparities widened, while Black-White disparities decreased. Conclusions: Despite the promise that in-home FIT testing would substitute for colonoscopy during the pandemic, we saw a much larger decline in FIT testing rates during the pandemic than for colonoscopy and increasing disparities. This study highlights the need for targeted strategies to address screening disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Hispanic and NH-Asian populations. Citation Format: Cameron M. Kaplan, Willow Pastard, John Thacker, Todd Schneberk, Chun Nok Lam, Sarah Axeen, Jennifer Tsui. Adapting to disruption?: Changes in colorectal cancer screening modalities and disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C129.

Effectiveness of Catch-Up Vaccination Interventions Versus Standard or Usual Care Procedures in Increasing Adherence to Recommended Vaccinations Among Different Age Groups: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Before-After Studies.

To address the global challenge of vaccine hesitancy, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization strongly promotes vaccination reminder and recall interventions. Coupled with the new opportunities presented by scientific advancements, these measures are crucial for successfully immunizing target population groups. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of various interventions in increasing vaccination coverage compared with standard or usual care. The review will cover all vaccinations recommended for different age groups. In February 2022, 2 databases were consulted, retrieving 1850 studies. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, 79 manuscripts were included after the assessment phase. These comprised 46 trials/randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 33 before-after studies. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed with STATA software (version 14.1.2). The selected outcome was the risk ratio (RR) of vaccination coverage improvement effectiveness. Additionally, meta-regression analyses were conducted for the included manuscripts. The analyses showed an overall efficacy of RR 1.22 (95% CI 1.19-1.26) for RCTs and RR 1.70 (95% CI 1.54-1.87) for before-after studies when considering all interventions cumulatively. Subgroup analyses identified multicomponent interventions (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.36-1.85) and recall clinical interventions (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17-1.32) as the most effective in increasing vaccination coverage for RCTs. By contrast, educational interventions (RR 2.13, 95% CI 1.60-2.83) and multicomponent interventions (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.43-1.82) achieved the highest increases for before-after studies. Meta-regression analyses indicated that the middle-aged adult population was associated with a higher increase in vaccination coverage (RCT: coefficient 0.54, 95% CI 0.12-0.95; before-after: coefficient 1.27, 95% CI 0.70-1.84). Community, family, and health care-based multidimensional interventions, as well as education-based catch-up strategies, effectively improve vaccination coverage. Therefore, their systematic implementation is highly relevant for targeting undervaccinated population groups. This approach aligns with national vaccination schedules and aims to eliminate or eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases.

Digital technology adoption and the latecomer firms’ catch-up: an empirical study on Chinese manufacturing enterprises

ABSTRACT Digital technology has a significant influence on future economic growth. Achieving catch-up in the context of digital development is crucial for firms. However, the mechanisms between firms’ digital technology adoption (DTA) and catch-up are underexplored. Based on panel data of A-share listed manufacturing firms in China from 2012 to 2021, this study investigates the impact of DTA on firms’ technological catch-up (TC) and market catch-up (MC) from theoretical and empirical perspectives. The following findings are drawn. (1) DTA positively and significantly affects firms’ TC and MC, and the results remain valid after using the instrumental variables method, propensity score matching, and other robustness tests. After removing the order-of-magnitude discrepancies and dimensions, DTA had a more significant effect on MC than TC. (2) Dynamic capacity mediates the relationship between DTA and firms’ catch-up. (3) The heterogeneity analysis finds that DTA influences TC and MC in state-owned enterprises and high-tech firms more significantly. This study provides a new perspective on firms’ catch-up and guides for firms to develop effective DTA and catch-up strategies.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Routine Outreach and Catch-Up Campaign Strategies for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) experience periodic outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Our objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of routine outreach and catch-up campaign strategies for increasing vaccination coverage for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine among children aged 12 months through 6 years in Chuuk, FSM. We used a cost-effectiveness model to assess 4 MMR vaccination strategies from a public health perspective: routine outreach conducted 4 times per year (quarterly routine outreach), routine outreach conducted 2 times per year (biannual routine outreach), catch-up campaigns conducted once per year (annual catch-up campaign), and catch-up campaigns conducted every 2 years with quarterly routine outreach in non-catch-up campaign years (status quo). We calculated costs and outcomes during a 5-year model horizon and summarized results as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. We analyzed the following public health outcomes: additional protected person-month (PPM), doses administered and protected people (ie, a child who completed a 2-dose MMR series). We conducted 1-way sensitivity analyses to evaluate the stability of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and to identify influential model inputs. Among the 4 MMR vaccination strategies, quarterly routine outreach was the most effective and most expensive strategy, and biannual routine outreach was the least expensive and least effective strategy. Quarterly routine outreach (vs status quo) yielded approximately an additional 7001 PPMs and 132 vaccine doses administered, with incremental costs of about $4 per PPM, $193 per dose administered, and $123 per protected person. Routine outreach and catch-up campaign vaccination strategies can be important interventions to improve health in Chuuk, FSM. More frequent routine outreach events could improve MMR coverage and reduce the likelihood of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and mumps.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Acceleration and Introduction in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multi-Country Cohort Analysis.

Cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is the second-largest cancer killer of women in low- and middle-income countries. The brunt of the global burden is borne predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2020 alone, 70,000 of the 100,000 infected women in Africa died from it, thereby making up 21% of global cervical cancer mortality. The introduction of the HPV vaccine into the National Immunization Program was expected to change the trajectory. However, uptake of the vaccination has been poor, especially for the second dose. Only about half of the countries in Africa currently provide the vaccine. Without urgent intervention, the 2030 global cervical cancer elimination targets will be undermined. The study aims to understand the key challenges facing the HPV vaccine and to develop a roadmap to accelerate the uptake. Fourteen countries were purposively included using a cohort design methodology and the investigation spanned March-July 2023. The Africa region was stratified into three focus-group discussion cohorts (Abidjan, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam), comprising pre-selected countries that have already and those about to introduce the HPV vaccine. In each country, the EPI manager, the NITAG chair or representatives and an HPV-focal researcher were selected participants. The methods involved a collaborative and knowledge-sharing format through regional and country-specific discussions, plenary discussions, and workshop-style group missions. The study reached a total of 78 key stakeholders, comprising 30 participants in cohort one, 21 in cohort two and 27 in cohort three. Key outcomes included the prevalence of declining HPV2 vaccination across all countries in the region; country-specific barriers impeding uptake were identified and strategy for accelerating vaccination demand initiated, e.g., utilizing investments from COVID-19 (e.g., electronic registry and multisector coordination); individual countries developing their respective HPV vaccination recovery and acceleration roadmaps; the identification and inclusion of a zero-dose catch-up strategy into the vaccination roadmaps; support for a transition from multiple-doses to a single-dose HPV vaccine; the incorporation of implementation science research to support the decision-making process such as vaccine choices, doses and understanding behavior. Beyond research, the study shows the significance of scientific approaches that are not limited to understanding problems, but are also solution-oriented, e.g., development of roadmaps to overcome barriers against HPV vaccination uptake.

Review on the technical catch-up paradigm

Technological innovation plays an increasingly prominent role in the process of economic development, and it should be based on technological innovation in developing the catch-up strategy. On the basis of sorting out the existing technology catch-up path, and according to some cases of domestic and foreign technology catch-up, the general mode of late-development enterprises and countries in the process of catch-up technology catch-up, that is, early jump-middle follow-later creation. The whole catch-up process should take learning, digesting and introducing technology, improving technical ability and enhancing independent innovation ability as the main line. Whether the path jumping, path following or path creation technology catch-up path can only become part of the whole catch-up process.

Globalising innovation through co-inventions–the success case of the Korean lithium-ion battery industry

Radical innovations can shift the global competitiveness of entire nations. While countries typically struggle to absorb knowledge about novel technologies quickly, in which knowledge tends to be spatially sticky, an important exception is the fast catch-up of the Korean Li-ion battery industry from Japan in the early 2000s. In this paper, we conduct an exploratory case study on this surprising success story. Focussing on patent co-inventions between Korea and Japan, we investigate their significance, as well as underlying types of co-inventions and types of transferred knowledge. To this end, we proceed in four steps: (1) a Poisson regression model; (2) social network analyses; (3) patent inventor tracking and (4) patent coding. Our results indicate that Korean–Japanese co-inventions hold significantly greater influence than other cross-country co-inventions, including with patents without cross-country collaboration. We find a pronounced knowledge-transfer intensity during the early 2000s and observe two types of co-inventions: organisation-level and inventor-level. Predominantly, we observe inventor-level co-inventions, i.e. Korean companies hiring experienced Japanese engineers, that proved important to transferring sticky knowledge. Moreover, while most patents target the design of core battery components, the share of manufacturing patents are—contrary to theoretical expectations—highest during the first half of the observation period. We also discuss our findings and draw implications for policy, industrial and academic players, including industry localisation policies, technology-inherent catch-up strategies and directions for future research.

EXPLORING TEACHERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF TEACHING LEARNERS WITH ADHD IN SELECTED INCLUSIVE PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which causes functional impairment. The study explored teachers’ understanding of teaching learners with ADHD in Zambian inclusive primary schools. A descriptive design supported by qualitative approaches was used. The sample size involved 18 teachers of learners with ADHD, 9 learners with ADHD, 3 administrators, and 4 officials from the Ministry of Education. Homogeneous purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data was collected using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observation checklists. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic and content analysis. The study revealed mixed views on teachers’ understanding of teaching learners with ADHD. Some teachers indicated that they adequately understood learners with ADHD due to sufficient knowledge to deal with learners, adequate training to deal with learners able to apply appropriate teaching methods, strategies, and techniques for learners, adequate exposure to handling learners, self-motivation to teach learners and ability to control the behaviours of the learners with ADHD. On the other hand, teacher participants indicated that they had limited understanding due to inadequate training in Special Education, teachers' inability to handle learners, insufficient use of appropriate teaching methods, strategies, and techniques for learners with ADHD, and their inability to control learners with ADHD. To address the challenges faced by teachers while teaching learners with ADHD, teachers employed strategies such as catch-up strategies, social and emotional support strategies, professional development strategies, and punishment strategies. The study recommends, upgrading teachers understanding and strategies to use in teaching learners with ADHD through teacher training; and capacity building in the form of CPD in schools.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0601/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Successful Technological Catch-Up Strategy: Empirical Evidence From Telecommunication Equipment Industry

Successful Technological Catch-Up Strategy: Empirical Evidence From Telecommunication Equipment Industry

Evaluation of a catch-up strategy for the vaccination in patients with hepatitis C virus.

Vaccination in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) is an essential part of their comprehensive healthcare. These individuals may have impaired phagocytic function and diminished production of opsonizing antibodies, resulting in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, particularly pneumococcal pneumonia. Similarly, there is an increased risk of fulminant hepatitis due to hepatitis A and B viruses. The Ministry of Health updated specific vaccination recommendations for this group in 2018.

How is Tencent Catching up with Facebook: Empirical Analysis using Patent Citation Data

This paper examines Tencent’s economic performances over time in terms of its technological catch-up and business strategies, with Facebook as a benchmark. Patent and citation data from 2010 to 2019, extracted from the Worldwide Patent Statistical Database (PATSTAT), was used to analyze the technological catching up made by Tencent and Facebook. Results indicate that Tencent has overtaken Facebook in terms of market performances, and that the overtaking in the number of patents preceded that of the market performances, but Tencent has not yet overtaken Facebook in terms of the quality of patents. Tencent has surpassed Facebook in terms of technological independence from external sources and further widened the gap in this aspect over the years. Patterns in the cycle time of the patented technology and citations of non-patent scientific literatures illustrate Tencent’s strategies to seek a niche using recent technologies and avoid issues related to intellectual property rights. Overall, there is some evidence that technological prowess contributes to Tencent’s overtake of Facebook in market performances.

Technological catch-up in the Iranian steel industry: Integrating regime-based and complex product systems approaches

Researchers in the technological catch-up field have recently directed their attention toward a regime-based approach and Complex Product Systems (CoPs) streams. Within this context, studies on each stream demonstrate how industry-specific frameworks in developing countries influence technological catch-up dynamics. This study explores these dynamics by analyzing market and technological regimes within Iran's steel industry as semi-CoPs, comprehensively. The study utilizes historical and content analyses to delineate five capability-building waves and extract themes and dimensions from documents and expert interviews conducted within the steel industry. The findings show that Iran's steel industry catch-up strategy is based on a path-following in which synthesizing overseas technology transfer with indigenous technological developments occurs. That is, firms enrich their indigenous capabilities through reverse engineering of established technologies like MIDREX, progressing to re-engineering existing technologies in iron-making. The enhancement of capabilities, coupled with the employment of opportunity windows, has paved the way for the path-creation in minor technology that has ultimately resulted in the advent of PERED technology. Finally, the findings are further compared with other domestic industries and insights are sought from international counterparts for researchers and participators.

Latecomers’ technological catch-up dynamics in natural resource-based industries: Evidence from Iran’s oil & gas sector

This study sheds light on the catch-up dynamics in natural resource-based industries (NRBI) of developing countries considering learning modes, technological capability dimensions, catch-up strategies, and windows of opportunity. It provides a framework for examining the technological catch-up of latecomer Exploration & Production companies while emphasizing the nature of the industry and characteristics of lagging behind and under-sanction countries like Iran. The analytical framework has been examined by studying two Iranian oil companies. Findings show that latecomer E&P companies can take two distinct paths for technological catch-up, including increasing the depth of operational capability and upgrading the level of advanced capability.

School-based vaccination program against HPV and Hepatitis B: A longitudinal analysis of vaccine coverage between 2015 and 2021 in Quebec

BackgroundHPV vaccination prevents cancers, including 90% of cervical cancer. Since 2008, a school-based HPV vaccination program has been implemented in Quebec, but vaccine coverage is suboptimal. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted school-based vaccination programs. This study aimed to assess variation in HPV vaccination coverage in the school-based program between 2015 and 2022 in Quebec and to identify sociodemographic characteristics associated with non-vaccination. MethodsHPV vaccine coverage data were extracted from the Quebec Immunization Registry for students in Grade 4 and matched to the 2016 Canadian census sociodemographic data. Descriptive analysis was conducted to explore individual-level vaccine coverage according to sociodemographic data. A Generalized Estimating Equations model assessed the independent association between non-vaccination and students’ sociodemographic characteristics. ResultsHPV vaccine coverage (at least one dose) was 84% in 2018–2019 and 85% in 2019–2020. A decrease was observed during the pandemic. In 2020–2021, the HPV vaccine coverage (at least one dose) was 52% (at the end of the school year) and rose to 84% with intense catch-up activities. In 2021–2022, the coverage was slightly lower than before the pandemic (81%). Factors in the dissemination area were statistically significantly associated with non-vaccination: material (p-value = 0.0001) and social deprivation index (p-value = 0.0048), the proportion of immigration (p-value < 0.0001), and the language spoken at home (English (p-value = 0.0318), other than French or English (p-value = 0.0001). ConclusionSchool-based vaccination programs offer equitable access to vaccination, and our analysis showed that some groups have consistently lower vaccine acceptance and uptake. Strategies to improve HPV vaccine coverage should target children living in areas with a higher proportion of immigrants, non-French speakers, and people from underprivileged backgrounds. Although it is too early to assess the full impact of COVID-19 on school-based programs in Quebec, it remains important to ensure that catch-up strategies are implemented for missed doses.

Abstract C131: Disparities in breast cancer screening resumption among health plan enrollees in the US following the COVID-19 pandemic: Are all groups back on track?

Abstract Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted racial/ethnic minority and low-income individuals and resulted in significant disruptions in preventive care for all groups. While severe declines in routine cancer screening were observed during pandemic shutdown periods, it is unclear whether return-to-screening rates following healthcare reopening are consistent across all groups. In this study we examine rates of breast cancer screening pre- and post- pandemic shutdown periods across race/ethnicity, age, and income among health plan enrollees in the United States (US) to inform screening catch-up strategies after COVID-19 disruptions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of breast cancer screening claims (including codes for mammography, breast MRI, digital breast tomography, and breast imaging) from Optum Clinformatics Data Mart among female enrollees from 2019-2021. Eligible enrollees included women, ages 40-75 with continuous enrollment 12 months prior to screening index month. Screening volume was calculated each calendar month during the three-year period, with January 2019-February 2020 as the pre-pandemic period, March 2020 through June 2020 as the pandemic closure period, and July 2020-December 2021 as the post-closure (reopening) pandemic period. We conducted an event study to calculate group-level monthly predicted probabilities of screening using a linear probability model with group interactions by month, controlling for demographic variables and comorbidities. Additionally, we used difference-in-difference (DD) regressions including group interacted with a post-closure pandemic dummy. The pandemic closure period months were excluded from our DD analysis. Results: Our study included 8,378,296 health plan enrolled women. Overall mammography screening decreased significantly during the pandemic closure phase (March-June 2020) but rebounded to higher levels in the post-closure period relative to baseline (3.76% to 3.96%). Screening rates were highest among non-Hispanic White women in the pre-pandemic period compared to other racial-ethnic groups. Our DD model suggests that White-Asian disparities increased in the post-pandemic period while other race/ethnic disparities remained constant. Additionally, disparities in screening by age changed during the pandemic. Although the oldest age group (65-75) had the highest screening rates in the pre-closure phase, they were slower to return to pre-pandemic levels of screening compared to younger age groups. Implications: Return to breast cancer screening among health plan enrollees in the US was robust. However, disparities in screening rates between groups in the pre-pandemic period were again observed in the reopening period, signaling lost opportunities to revamp structural inequities in care delivery following the pandemic. Further monitoring of return-to-screening disparities, particularly among more medically underserved groups, will be critical in informing interventions to address the long-term consequences resulting from the disruption of COVID-19 on cancer care. Citation Format: Jennifer Tsui, Sarah Axeen, John Thacker, Sonali Saluja, Laura Solano, Willow Pastard, Chun Nok Lam, Todd Schneberk, Cameron Kaplan. Disparities in breast cancer screening resumption among health plan enrollees in the US following the COVID-19 pandemic: Are all groups back on track? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C131.

О разработке инновационных стратегий устойчивого развития России

The current domestic strategizing practice needs significant improvements. On the one hand, innovative strategies should factor in the extreme variability of external environment. On the other hand, they should address long-term trends and goals, e.g., climate change, low-carbon economy, etc. This research featured the industrial strategizing of the Russian economy. In spite of the rapid changes postulated by the concepts of VUCA and BANI, proper strategizing can support effective transformations of companies and industries by cascading and synchronizing different economic policies. Most state-approved industrial strategies provide an effective in-depth situation analysis and problem definition but, being aimed at solving current problems, lack a long-term vision. As a result, they turn into catch-up development strategies that are unable to form leading positions in the future. The long-term goal of any innovative strategy is to develop the existing competencies, competitive advantages, and resource opportunities in order to attract additional resources and create new competitive advantages. Initially, industrial strategies can be limited to minimum allowable investment level that provide effective interaction between business, science, and the state, e.g., special economic zones, industrial clusters, digital platforms, etc. The resulting horizontal connections protect the economic system from the changing external environment.

From lagging behind to going beyond: windows of opportunity and latecomers' catch-up strategies

PurposeTo answer the questions: what roles windows of opportunity act in the catchup process of latecomers, what strategies latecomer enterprises should adopt to size windows of opportunity to catch-up with incumbents even going beyond?Design/methodology/approachThis paper studies the catch-up history of the Chinese mobile phone industry and proposes a sectoral innovation system under scenario of technology paradigm shifts. Then a history-friendly simulation model and counterfactual analysis are conducted to learn how different windows of opportunity and catch-up strategies influence the catch-up performance of latecomers.FindingsResults show latecomers can catch up with technology ability by utilizing technology window and path-creating strategy. However, catching up with the market is not guaranteed. Demand window can help latecomers to catch up with market as it increases their survival rates, different sized windows benefit different strategies. However, it also enlarges incumbents' scale effect. Without technology window technology catch up is not guaranteed. Two windows have combination effects. Demand window affects the “degree” of change in survival rates, while the technology window affects the “speed” of change. Demand window provides security; technology window provides the possibility of a breakthrough for technology ability.Practical implicationsThe findings of this paper provide theoretical guidance for latecomer enterprises to choose appropriate catch-up strategies to seize different opportunity windows.Originality/valueThis paper emphasizes the abrupt change of industrial innovation system caused by technology paradigm shifts, which makes up for the shortcomings of previous researches on industrial innovation system which either studied the influence of static factors or based on the influence of continuous changes.

Hepatitis C virus screening in Piemonte: an effective strategy to eliminate HCV chronic infections

Abstract In 2016, WHO set the goal of elimination of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) by 2030. Globally, about 58 million people have chronic HCV, which causes cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and death (around 300000 in 2019), representing a heavy burden for public health. In Italy, the incidence of HCV acute infection is around 0.11 per 100000, and the estimated number of non-diagnosed chronic infections is 280000. In order to reach WHO's goal, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) and the Ministry of Health implemented a strategy based on the detection of silent chronic infections and their treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), which cure around 95% of HCV infections. Therefore, in 2022, Regione Piemonte started a screening program contacting all residents born between 1969 and 1989. The screening was performed with rapid blood tests (antibodies detection, sensibility and specificity ca. 99%), and in case of a positive result, a HCV-RNA test was offered to confirm chronic infection and the need for treatment with DAAs. The Local Health Authority TO3, invited 36120 out of 158017 eligible residents (temporary and permanent), in the period March 2022 - April 2023 with invitation letters or catch-up strategies on other occasions; 6000 rapid blood tests were used (16.6% of invited population), and 11 (0.19%) tested positive. The RNA test confirmed 5 (0.08%) results. All the positive subjects were referred to 2 hospitals for DAAs treatment. As demonstrated by ISS, HCV screening could represent an effective mean to meet WHO's goal of HCV elimination by 2030 and also allow us to reduce HCV's burden on public health; although, with the current low adhesion rate, these results may not be reachable. Therefore, it is necessary to implement health promotion campaigns, to involve more stakeholders, including social and healthcare associations, General Practitioners and policy-makers, as the entire population's health would benefit from a successful HCV elimination program. Key messages • HCV and viral hepatitis represent a heavy burden for public health, high costs for Health Systems and severely affect the quality of life of subjects with un-diagnosed chronic infections. • The availability of reliable, non-invasive, tests and of extremely effective treatments should move policy-makers to allocate more resources in the implementation of HCV eradication strategies.