Gaps In Delivery Research Articles

Multilevel Influences on Providers' Delivery of Contraceptive Services: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis.

Introduction:Access to a full range of contraceptive services is essential for quality health care. Contraceptive provision practices of primary care providers play an important role in patients' decision-making about their reproductive health care. Understanding the multilevel factors influencing contraceptive care delivery in primary care settings is critical for advancing quality care. This study offers an in-depth examination of influences on providers' delivery of contraceptive services across multiple primary care specialties and practice settings to identify issues and strategies to improve care.Materials and Methods:Twenty-four in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted in 2017 with primary care providers, including family physicians, gynecologists, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners from academic settings, private practices, and health centers. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically.Results:Providers described a complex set of influences on their provision of contraception across multiple ecological contexts. Seven major themes emerged from the qualitative analysis, including six types of influence on provision of contraception: organizational, individual provider-related, structural and policy, individual patient-related, community, and the lack of influences or barriers. Providers also discussed the sources they access for information about evidence-based contraception counseling.Conclusions:A diverse set of providers described a complex system in which multiple concentric ecological contexts both positively and negatively influence the ways in which they provide contraceptive services to their patients. To close the gaps in contraceptive service delivery, it is important to recognize that both barriers and facilitators to patient-centered contraceptive counseling exist simultaneously across multiple ecological contexts.

Ultrasound-assisted ocular drug delivery: A review of current evidence.

Efficient ocular drug delivery is a challenging clinical problem with various therapeutic options but no clearly preferred methodology. Given the ubiquity of ultrasound as a diagnostic technique, the safety profile of ultrasound in an ocular context, and the prospect of custom-made ultrasound-sensitive contrast agents, ultrasound presents an attractive ocular drug delivery modality. In this review, we evaluate our present understanding of ultrasound as it relates to ocular drug delivery and significant knowledge gaps in the field. In doing so, we hope to call attention to a potentially novel drug delivery pathway that could be manipulated to treat or cure ocular diseases.

Re-Conceptualizing Bereavement Care Practices: Insights Gained from Service Providers.

The management and delivery of bereavement care and support services present practical challenges. A national-level, qualitative study was conducted to examine the current practices in Singapore. The study's purpose was to inform bereavement care practices by drawing from perspectives of service providers offering death, dying and bereavement-related services. This qualitative study was undertaken using focused group discussion (FGD) with service providers from the health, social and death-related sectors. Ten FGDs were conducted with a total of 69 participants. Thematic analysis yield two themes - identifying challenging circumstances to provide bereavement care and strategies for dealing with the gaps in service delivery. The service providers' experiential knowledge could be borrowed to strengthen the current bereavement care practices for the good of the community. The findings have informed the reconceptualization of a local bereavement care and support service model, with the public health model as the recommended underpinning conceptual framework.

Leadership Immersion and Aspiring Leader Programs Designed to Improve Nurses’ Well-Being and Competence: Integral Features During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nurse leaders play integral roles in the health care system as they focus on patient quality of care and safety at a high level and lead teams of frontline staff. Nurse leadership turnover during COVID-19 poses challenges not only for continuity of patient care but also for organizations that may fail to meet their specific goals. When a nurse leader role is not filled, gaps in care delivery occur. Our institution developed the Leadership Immersion and Aspiring Leader Programs prior to COVID-19 that provide application to theory opportunities to new nursing leaders who are prepared to fill leadership positions.

Health Care Use of Cardiac Specialty Care in Children With Muscular Dystrophy in the United States.

BackgroundDuchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy are progressive disorders associated with cardiac mortality. Guidelines recommend routine surveillance; we assess cardiac resource use and identify gaps in care delivery.Methods and ResultsMale patients, aged 1 to 18 years, with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy between January 2013 and December 2017 were identified in the IBM MarketScan Research Database. The cohort was divided into <10 and 10 to 18 years of age. The primary outcome was rate of annual health care resource per person year. Resource use was assessed for place of service, cardiac testing, and medications. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using a Poisson regression model. Medication use was measured by proportion of days covered. There were 1386 patients with a median follow‐up time of 3.0 years (interquartile range, 1.9–4.7 years). Patients in the 10 to 18 years group had only 0.40 (95% CI, 0.35–0.45) cardiology visits per person year and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.62–0.70) echocardiography/magnetic resonance imaging per person year. Older patients had higher rates of inpatient admissions (IRR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.03–2.09), outpatient cardiology visits (IRR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.66–2.40), cardiac imaging (IRR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.40–1.80), and Holter monitoring (IRR, 3.33; 95% CI, 2.35–4.73). A proportion of days covered >80% for angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers was observed in 13.6% (419/3083) of total person years among patients in the 10 to 18 years group.ConclusionsChildren 10 to 18 years of age have higher rates of cardiac resource use compared with those <10 years of age. However, rates in both age groups fall short of guidelines. Opportunities exist to identify barriers to resource use and optimize cardiac care for patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.

Patient experience of the acute post-surgical period following total laryngectomy during the COVID-19 era.

BackgroundTotal laryngectomy (TL) results in permanent functional changes requiring rapid development of complex new skills. A significant portion of this learning happens in the acute post‐surgical stage. There is increasing interest in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in TL; however, implementation has been difficult. COVID‐19 has placed significant pressures on acute services, requiring rapid service changes for TL patients.AimsTo understand the acute patient experience of having a TL both before and during COVID‐19.Methods & ProceduresSemi‐structured interviews using a pre‐designed topic guide were conducted with 10 people who had undergone a TL within the last 2 years. Participants were recruited by their speech and language therapists using purposive sampling. Braun and Clarke's iterative approach to data collection and thematic analysis was used to generate key themes from the data.Outcomes & ResultsThematic analysis identified four main themes: (1) pre‐operative information‐giving: ‘it was just words’; (2) decision‐making influences: ‘I just wanted them to get it all out and get it over with’; (3) coping with adjustment to the new normal: ‘this is part of me now’; and (4) the importance of relationship‐building: ‘when you've had something like this, you need some care and understanding’.Conclusions & ImplicationsThe need for an individualized approach to TL intervention which incorporates medical and psycho‐social approaches from pre‐treatment to acute discharge is vital. ERAS models should be reviewed to shift beyond the medical model alone. Rapid service changes due to COVID‐19 did not contribute any major changes to the acute patient‐reported experience.What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subject We know that ERAS protocols have the potential to improve patient outcomes following TL. However, the research does not consider anything other than the early oral feeding debate and it has therefore been difficult to implement ERAS protocols in current service models. COVID19 required head and neck cancer services to make quick changes to surgical pathways, with the potential that some ERAS protocols had been adopted inadvertently. In order to understand the impact of this, we need to understand the patient experience following TL both before and during COVID19. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This paper used qualitative interviews to understand the acute patient experience following TL both during and before COVID19. Findings from these interviews highlighted that people were on the most part, well prepared for the functional changes they would experience after surgery. However, people felt there were gaps in service delivery at the pre‐treatment and early discharge home period. Overall, the gaps identified were from a more psycho‐social need suggesting that future ERAS models of care should consider both medical and psycho‐social principles to enhance patient experience and outcome. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Pre‐treatment services provided to people who have a TL could be reviewed to help maximize long‐term adjustment to life. Areas which could be reviewed include the method and mode of information delivery. Further work needs to be done in partnership with community services to improve the immediate discharge home experience.

Tailored, Community-Based Programs for People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregiver.

People living with dementia (PLWD) have voiced a desire to remain in their home environment as long as possible; unfortunately, there is limited integrated person-and family-centered community support. To examine the need for tailored supports for PLWD and their family caregivers (caregiving dyad), a meeting was conducted in Spring 2020. Thirty key provincial stakeholders with diversity in geographic location, employer and/or organization, range of roles, and family representatives participated in the meeting. Stakeholders identified a series of gaps, including: (a) systemic gaps; (b) gaps between communities of practice; (c) underserved populations; (d) program content and delivery gaps; and (e) PLWD and family caregiver support gaps. With input from stakeholders, we highlighted the need for consistent resources for the caregiving dyad that are flexible, timely, and accessible, which are embedded in the community and led by qualified and trained staff. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(4), 26-32.].

A Residency Program Curriculum to Improve Health Care Transitions for Autistic Individuals.

Physical and mental health outcomes of autistic individuals deteriorate during transition to adulthood. The study aims to identify opportunities to improve physician knowledge in health-care transitions (HCT) for autistic individuals by understanding perceived versus experienced facilitators and barriers in overall HCT curriculum implementation in graduate medical education. Medicine-Pediatrics program directors participated in a Health Care Transition Residency Curriculum Collaborative Improvement Network and used an iterative process to develop and improve HCT curricula. Pre- and postcollaborative semistructured interviews were administered to program directors. The study occurred over 9 months (July 2018-February 2019). Recurring interview themes were analyzed utilizing Dedoose qualitative coding software and presented utilizing percentages and proportions. Most program directors developed curricula in response to a gap in their current transition curricula. All program directors partially or completely met their goals during the collaborative. The most common types of curricular delivery were didactic (65%) and clinical experience-based (53%). Some tested unique delivery platforms, like the electronic medical record system (29%) and online modules (24%). Program directors often involved residents in the curricular development process and overwhelmingly (65%) felt this was a major facilitator. Competing priorities of faculty (71%) and of residents (53%) were the most common barriers. Gaps in HCT curricula delivery were primarily attributed to suboptimal health care systems where training occurs, though existing clinical experiences and diverse learning modalities were successfully leveraged. Using a quality improvement framework and actively engaging resident trainees in curriculum development were successful strategies programs used in the development of HCT curricula.

558 Nurse-driven fluid resuscitation protocol - a quality improvement initiative

IntroductionThe migration of paper medical records to electronic health record (EHR) has been in process for a few years now and most facilities have achieved this successfully. EHR has streamlined care and documentation. Further developments such as Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) has been noted as one of the most promising functionalities of Health Information Technology (HIT), as it allows providers to enter orders, medications, diagnostic tests, and procedures, with the intent of improving the clarity and specificity of physician orders, facilitating the rapid communication of orders to pharmacies, and providing significantly enhanced decision support capabilities compared to traditional handwritten orders.1In our experience, initiation of CPOE has been beneficial in many ways, namely in decreasing medication errors related to handwritten orders. However, in the clinical scenario of acute resuscitation of a critically injured burn patient, the CPOE structure did not address each and every need that would arise, especially if fluid titration was necessary. Nursing staff were left unsure of what to do in terms of their role in adjusting fluids and assessing for adequacy of resuscitation. This led to gaps in care in which potential critical situations needed to be addressed. For instance, the possible development of abdominal compartment syndrome and how to respond to it was not part of CPOE set that was implemented. This was placing the patient at risk by delaying initiation of hemodynamic monitoring and delaying electrolyte replacement as well.The goal of this study is to report the outcomes of this quality improvement initiative and to describe the resultant research that is in place to evaluate its effectiveness.MethodsThis is a QI project that will identify and describe how a protocol was developed post- CPOE implementation to address gaps in nursing care during fluid resuscitation of critically ill burned patientsResultsWe created a protocol that allows the nurse to have better insight into what is happening with the patient and what physician orders are most pertinent at any particular time. The protocol sets parameters that alerts the nurse when additional intervention is necessary. For instance, monitoring for abdominal compartment syndrome begins once resuscitation exceeds 6 mL/kg/TBSA and allowing for the nurse to call the primary physician for hypotension that is refractory to fluid bolus. This was not clear before and nurses were not intervening appropriately, which resulted in gaps in delivery of care. We have not had to report any adverse or sentinel event related to fluid resuscitation since the implementation of this protocol.ConclusionsA nurse-driven protocol helped address gaps in care for nurses at the bedside during fluid resuscitation

Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Among US Adolescents and Adults With Need for Opioid Treatment, 2019

Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the criterion standard treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), but nationally representative studies of MOUD use in the US are lacking. To estimate MOUD use rates and identify associations between MOUD and individual characteristics among people who may have needed treatment for OUD. Cross-sectional, nationally representative study using the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health in the US. Participants included community-based, noninstitutionalized adolescent and adult respondents identified as individuals who may benefit from MOUD, defined as (1) meeting criteria for a past-year OUD, (2) reporting past-year MOUD use, or (3) receiving past-year specialty treatment for opioid use in the last or current treatment episode. The main outcomes were treatment with MOUD compared with non-MOUD services and no treatment. Associations with sociodemographic characteristics (eg, age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, and urbanicity); substance use disorders; and past-year health care or criminal legal system contacts were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare characteristics of people receiving MOUD with those receiving non-MOUD services or no treatment. Models accounted for predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics. In the weighted sample of 2 206 169 people who may have needed OUD treatment (55.5% male; 8.0% Hispanic; 9.9% non-Hispanic Black; 74.6% non-Hispanic White; and 7.5% categorized as non-Hispanic other, with other including 2.7% Asian, 0.9% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 3.8% multiracial), 55.1% were aged 35 years or older, 53.7% were publicly insured, 52.2% lived in a large metropolitan area, 56.8% had past-year prescription OUD, and 80.0% had 1 or more co-occurring substance use disorders (percentages are weighted). Only 27.8% of people needing OUD treatment received MOUD in the past year. Notably, no adolescents (aged 12-17 years) and only 13.2% of adults 50 years and older reported past-year MOUD use. Among adults, the likelihood of past-year MOUD receipt vs no treatment was lower for people aged 50 years and older vs 18 to 25 years (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR], 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05-0.41) or with middle or higher income (eg, $50 000-$74 999 vs $0-$19 999; aRRR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.07-0.44). Compared with receiving non-MOUD services, receipt of MOUD was more likely among adults with at least some college (vs high school or less; aRRR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.33-6.51) and less likely in small metropolitan areas (vs large metropolitan areas, aRRR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.19-0.93). While contacts with the health care system (85.0%) and criminal legal system (60.5%) were common, most people encountering these systems did not report receiving MOUD (29.5% and 39.1%, respectively). In this cross-sectional study, MOUD uptake was low among people who could have benefited from treatment, especially adolescents and older adults. The high prevalence of health care and criminal legal system contacts suggests that there are critical gaps in care delivery or linkage and that cross-system integrated interventions are warranted.

Optimal and actual rates of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) utilisation for primary lung cancer in Australia

Background and purposeRadiotherapy utilisation rates considerably vary across different countries and service providers, highlighting the need to establish reliable benchmarks against which utilisation rates can be assessed. Here, optimal utilisation rates of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) for lung cancer are estimated and compared against actual utilisation rates to identify potential shortfalls in service provision. Materials and MethodsAn evidence-based optimal utilisation model was constructed after reviewing practice guidelines and identifying indications for lung SABR based on the best available evidence. The proportions of patients likely to develop each indication were obtained, whenever possible, from Australian population-based studies. Sensitivity analysis was performed to account for variations in epidemiological data. Practice pattern studies were reviewed to obtain actual utilisation rates. ResultsA total of 6% of all lung cancer patients were estimated to optimally require SABR at least once during the course of their illness (95% CI: 4–6%). Optimal utilisation rates were estimated to be 32% for stage I and 10% for stage II NSCLC. Actual utilisation rates for stage I NSCLC varied between 6 and 20%. For patients with inoperable stage I, 27–74% received SABR compared to the estimated optimal rate of 82%. ConclusionThe estimated optimal SABR utilisation rates for lung cancer can serve as useful benchmarks to highlight gaps in service delivery and help plan for more adequate and efficient provision of care. The model can be easily modified to determine optimal utilisation rates in other populations or updated to reflect any changes in practice guidelines or epidemiological data.

Health care seeking behaviour and financial protection of patients with hypertension: A cross-sectional study in rural West Bengal, India.

BackgroundElevated blood pressure or hypertension is responsible for around 10 million annual deaths globally, and people residing in low and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by it. India is no exception, where low rate of treatment seeking for hypertension coupled with widespread out-of-pocket payments (OOPs) have been a challenge. This study assessed the pattern of health care seeking behaviour and financial protection along with the associated factors among hypertensive individuals in rural West Bengal, India.Method and findingsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Birbhum district of the state of West Bengal, India, during 2017–2018, where 300 individuals were recruited randomly from a list of hypertensives in a population cohort. Healthcare seeking for hypertension and related financial protection in terms of–OOPs and expenses relative to monthly per-capita family expenditure, were analysed. Findings indicated that 47% of hypertensives were not on treatment. Among those under treatment, 80% preferred non-public facilities, and 91% of them had wide-spread OOPs. Cost of medication was a major share of expenses followed by transportation cost to access public health care facility. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated longer duration of disease (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.68, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.24–25.99) and health care seeking from non-public establishment (aOR: 34.33, CI: 4.82–244.68) were associated with more incident of OOPs. Linear regression with generalized linear model revealed presence of co-morbidities (adjusted coefficient (aCoeff)10.28, CI: 4.96,15.61) and poorer economic groups (aCoeffpoorest 11.27, CI 3.82,18.71; aCoefflower-middle 7.83, CI 0.65,15.00 and aCoeffupper-middle 7.25, CI: 0.80,13.70) had higher relative expenditure.ConclusionThis study suggests that individuals with hypertension had poor health care seeking behaviour, preferred non-public health facilities and had suboptimal financial protection. Economically poorer individuals had higher burden of health expenditure for treatment of hypertension, which indicated gaps in equitable health care delivery for the control of hypertension.

Sustainability of the Effects and Impacts of Using Digital Technology to Extend Maternal Health Services to Rural and Hard-to-Reach Populations: Experience From Southwest Nigeria.

BackgroundNigeria has one of the worst health and development profiles globally. A weak health system, poor infrastructure, and varied socio-cultural factors are cited as inhibitors to optimal health system performance and improved maternal and child health status. eHealth has become a major solution to closing these gaps in health care delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This research reports the use of satellite communication (SatCom) technology and the existing 3G mobile network for providing video training (VTR) for health workers and improving the digitization of healthcare data.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether the expected project outcomes that were achieved at the end-line evaluation of 2019 were sustained 12 months after the project ended.MethodsFrom March 2017 to March 2019, digital innovations including VTR and data digitization interventions were delivered in 62 healthcare facilities in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, most of which lacked access to a 3G mobile network. Data collection for the evaluation combined documents' review with quantitative data extracted from health facility registers, and 24 of the most significant change stories to assess the longevity of the outcomes and impacts of digital innovation in the four domains of healthcare: use of eHealth technology for data management, utilization of health facilities by patients, the standard of care, and staff attitude. Stories of the most significant changes were audio-recorded, transcribed for analysis, and categorized by the above domains to identify the most significant changes 12 months after the project closedown.ResultsFindings showed that four project outcomes which were achieved at end-line evaluation were sustained 12 months after project closedown namely: staff motivation and satisfaction; increased staff confidence to perform healthcare roles; improved standard of healthcare delivery; and increased adoption of eHealth innovations beyond the health sector. Conversely, an outcome that was reversed following the discontinuation of SatCom from health facilities is the availability of accurate and reliable data for decision-making.ConclusionDigital technology can have lasting impacts on health workers, patients, and the health system, through improving data management for decision-making, the standard of maternity service delivery, boosting attendance at health facilities, and utilization of services. Locally driven investment is essential for ensuring the long-term survival of eHealth projects to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) in LMICs.

Mental health problems and service gaps experienced by pregnant adolescents and young women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.

SummaryBackgroundPregnant adolescent girls and young women (AGYW, aged 12–24 years) are at high risk for mental health problems, particularly in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) region.MethodsWe performed a systematic review of mental health studies among pregnant AGYW in SSA published between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2020 in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Global Index Medicus following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42021230980). We used Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model to frame and synthesize results from included studies.FindingsOur search yielded 945 articles from which 18 studies were included (N = 8 quantitative, N = 9 qualitative, N = 1 case report). The most frequently studied mental health problem was depression (N = 9 studies); the most frequently utilized measurement tool was the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (N = 3). Studies reported life course factors, individual, microsystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem-level factors associated with mental health problems. Gaps in mental health service delivery for pregnant AGYW included lack of confidentiality, judgmental healthcare worker attitudes, and lack of services tailored to their unique needs.InterpretationGaps remain in research and services for mental health among pregnant AGYW in SSA. Integration of mental health services within school, community, and healthcare settings that are tailored to pregnant AGYW could strengthen health systems within SSA.FundingAuthor contributions were supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (F31HD101149 to AL) and the Fogarty International Center (K43TW010716 to MK). The funding agencies had no role in the writing of the manuscript or the decision to submit it for publication. The project itself was not funded.

Health Care for People with Disabilities in the Unified Health System in Brazil: A Scoping Review.

People with disabilities have greater need for healthcare on average, but often face barriers when accessing these services. The Brazilian government launched the National Health Policy for People with Disabilities (PNSPD) in 2002 to address this inequality. PNSPD has six areas of focus: quality of life, impairment prevention, comprehensive health care, organization and functioning of health services, information mechanisms, and training of human resources. The aim of this article was to undertake a scoping review to assess the evidence on the experience of people with disabilities in Brazil with respect to the six themes of the PNSPD. The scoping review included articles published between 2002 and 2019, from four electronic databases: PUBMED/MEDLINE, LILACS, Science Direct, and Scielo. In total, 8076 articles were identified, and after review of titles, abstracts, and full texts by two independent reviewers, 98 were deemed eligible for inclusion. The evidence was relatively limited in availability and scope. However, it consistently showed large gaps in delivery of healthcare to people with disabilities across the six dimensions considered. There was lack of actions aimed at promoting quality of life; insufficient professional training about disability; little evidence on the health profile of people with disabilities; large gaps in the availability of care due to widespread physical, informational, and attitudinal barriers; and poor distribution of the supply and integration of services. In conclusion, the policy framework in Brazil is supportive of the inclusion of people with disabilities in health services; however, large inequalities remain due to poor implementation of the policy into practice.

Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology in Sri Lanka: Curing between Medicine and Traditional Culture

Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown origin (CKDu) has appeared across Sri Lanka’s North Central Province (NCP) since the 1990s as an epidemic, unexplained by conventional associated risk factors. During the past few decades, a large number of studies attempted to determine the unknown etiology of CKDu. Despite these investigations, no concrete conclusions were developed, though a number of contradictory hypotheses emerged. The present ethnographic study was carried out in two endemic areas, labelled as “CKDu hotspots”, and illuminates how curing takes place between biomedicine and traditional cultural practices. Our ethnographic study thoroughly scrutinized three decades of lived experience, lay-perceptions and local discourses on CKDu. We used a qualitative study design with a transcendental phenomenological approach and employed a mixture of ethnographic methods. Data collection techniques included participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Data was analysed by using an interpretive thematic analysis model. Findings revealed that lay people have constructed a popular discourse on CKDu, and we explored their views on the origin, etiology and prevalence of CKDu in their locality over the past few decades. Patients’ narratives revealed that there were currently a number of gaps in service delivery. These were mainly due to distant relationships between healthcare providers and CKDu patients. Lay people in affected communities were marginalized throughout the investigation process to determine the unknown etiology, their involvement marginalized to merely acting as objects for scientific instigation. The affected communities strongly believed that CKDu was a recent phenomenon resulting from the mismanagement of the natural environment due to social and lifestyle changes. These findings highlight local dynamics of healthcare seeking behaviours which demand complementary medicine system, particularly given the number of limitations in the biomedical system. Empirical evidence generated from this study suggests a conceptual shift to an ethno-medical model to address CKDu. Improving cultural competency and communication skills among healthcare providers in public health are crucial in order to apply a “bio-psychosocial perspective” in healthcare delivery system and bridging the gap between hospital and the community.

Women with hepatitis B: how mothers with chronic hepatitis B understand and experience the prevention of mother-to-child transmission interventions in Victoria, Australia.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B can be prevented with targeted interventions; however, MTCT continues to occur in Australia and globally. This qualitative research investigated how mothers with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) understand and experience interventions for the prevention of MTCT of CHB (PMTCT-CHB) in Victoria, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women with CHB. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowballing sampling. Interviews explored the women's experience of care for themselves and their infants aimed at PMTCT-CHB. Interviews were conducted over the phone with a qualified interpreter where required. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research framework was used with data thematically analysed. This study was co-designed with mothers with CHB through a Community Advisory Group established for this research; coordinated and supported by LiverWELL and the researchers. Sixteen women were interviewed. Although most women understood the purpose of hepatitis B vaccination, there were significant gaps in information and education provided to mothers regarding PMTCT-CHB. These gaps included understanding of the extent of protection of vaccination, breastfeeding with CHB, post-vaccination testing for infants and lack of clarity of the woman's own hepatitis B status. There was notable fear and worry associated with hepatitis B transmission, with emotional support for mothers identified as a major gap in service delivery. Additionally, some women experienced stigma and discrimination due to their hepatitis B and refugee status. This study explored how mothers with CHB understand and experience interventions to prevent MTCT. Our findings reveal substantial gaps in delivery of information and care in the context of PMTCT-CHB in Victoria. Our findings can support development of evidence-based interventions and systems to improve healthcare for mothers with CHB and their infants, and thereby reduce possible CHB transmission and other negative outcomes, including stigma and discrimination.

Investing in mental health in Somalia: harnessing community mental health services through task shifting

The increase of mental health issues globally has been well documented and now reflected in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals as a matter of global health significance. At the same time, studies show the mental health situations in conflict and post-conflict settings much higher than the rest of the world, lack the financial, health services and human resource capacity to address the challenges. The study used a descriptive literature review and collected data from public domain, mostly mental health data from WHO's Global Health Observatory. Since there is no primary database for Somalia's public health research, the bibliographic databases used for mental health in this study included Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. The review of the mental health literature shows one of the biggest casualties of the civil war was loss of essential human resources in healthcare as most either fled the country or were part of the victims of the war. In an attempt to address the human resource gap, there are calls to task-shift so that available human resource can be utilized efficiently and effectively. This policy paper discusses the case of Somalia, the impact of decade-long civil conflict on mental health and health services, the significant gap in mental health service delivery and how to strategically and evidently task-shift in closing the mental health gap in service delivery.

Interprofessional Team Diagnostics Consultation Improves Health Professions’ Practice Outcomes and Clinical Research

Background: Communication gaps in health services delivery significantly compromise quality in clinical decision making. Information generated by diagnostics professionals’ accounts for much of the objective data in the clinical record and therefore is foundational in clinical decision support. This work describes the Diagnostics Consultation Model©, a diagnostics communications portal, which supports communications among interprofessional teams, providers, and institutions. Aims: Study aims were to develop and validate a workflow prediction index (the complexity index) to assign resolution of consultation requests to diagnostics practitioners with requisite competencies based on an algorithm comprised of characteristics available at the point of consultation initiation. The complexity index functions as the entry into a workflow process directing consultation requests, first, to diagnostics practitioners for investigation and then into communication processes for tracking medical history, patient/consumer clinical information, resolution logic, conclusions, and next step recommendations among all healthcare providers. Methods: Data to develop the complexity index (N = 325 consultation cases) were collected during daily activities in the clinical diagnostics laboratory and describe consultation characteristics important in clinical decision making and available at the point of consultation initiation. The complexity index was developed and validated by comparison of regression analyses using consultation characteristics, i.e., clinical outcomes, available at the point of consultation initiation (development) and after consultation completion (validation). Results: Diagnostics Consultation Model© methodology links communication processes among all providers in all care settings, i.e., community, institutional, and referral, involved in the care paths of individual patient/consumers. This methodology also provides the capability to follow individuals’ medical histories longitudinally and, through regular consultations and practice-based clinical research, to address issues of medical effectiveness, cost efficiency, access, equity, timeliness, safety, and compliance. Conclusion: Implementation of Diagnostics Consultation Model© methods and curriculum in health professions’ daily practice has the potential to change health services delivery by the redistribution of care through interprofessional teams coordinated by standardized communication processes. Employed as a systems approach to individualized patient/consumer care, the Diagnostics Consultation Model© could provide the communications technology and methodology structure for value-based healthcare continuously optimized to address the needs of individuals, populations, and health systems throughout the continuum of care.

Accounting for Outsourcing of Non-Core Services in Tanzania Public Sector: The Perception of Managers

The purpose of this paper was to explore the opinions of managers regarding the motives behind outsourcing practices in the public sector. Specifically, this paper intended to understand whether managers consider outsourcing as a cost-serving strategy, a strategy to focus on core competencies and or a strategy for enhancing the quality of service delivery. Interviews were conducted with thirty-two (32) public sector managers and fifteen (15) managers from private sectors that were purposefully selected. The results have shown that outsourcing decisions are necessary for complementing knowledge, skill and competence gaps in public service delivery. The managers’ opinions have indicated that outsourcing enables the public sector to focus on their respective core competencies in order to enhance their performances. Moreover, outsourcing decisions reduces operational costs and improves the quality of service delivery in the public sector. The findings imply that decision makers consider outsourcing as a tool to bring about economic, efficiency, effectiveness and equitable service delivery to the public in Tanzania. The limitations of this study are that the data collected from interviews could limit the generalization of the findings because the managers’ opinions may not necessarily be objective hence the results can be largely subjective. The paper recommends that future researchers can think of using a large sample and or analyze outsourcing in public sector services from risk-based perspectives.