Increased Health Service Research Articles

Integrating international lifestyle management of acute coronary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a rapid review of guidelines

Abstract Background The rising prevalence of comorbidity has been described as an international health priority. There has been a dramatic increase in the levels of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) among those with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), with approximately 25-40% of patients admitted to hospital for ACS, also having diabetes. Comorbid ACS-T2DM provides a more complex set of symptoms for patients and clinicians to manage, and health policy makers to plan for. Those living with comorbid ACS-T2DM are at increased risk of death, another heart attack, re-hospitalisation, heart failure, reduced physical and psychological health, increased health service use and poorer quality of life. Due to shared disease determinants such as obesity, low physical activity levels and poorer dietary habits; individuals with ACS are more likely to have a comorbid T2DM. Care for patients with comorbidities is fragmented, siloed and poorly organised as it reflects a tradition of single disease management meaning comorbidity is rarely considered. Robust evidence is required to shape provision and guidance for those with comorbid ACS-T2DM and the clinicians involved in their care; with an emphasis on redesigning service provision and practice to address the needs of this growing population. Purpose To identify opportunities in existing clinical guidance to improve integrated care strategies and streamline management for those with comorbid ACS-T2DM. Methods Following Cochrane rapid review recommendations, a Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework guided eligibility. Guidelines for adults with ACS, T2DM, or both conditions in high-income countries were considered. Nineteen guidelines from the UK, Australia, Canada, Europe, Ireland, New Zealand, and the USA were compared, covering ACS (n = 10), T2DM (n = 6), and comorbid ACS-T2DM (n = 3). Lifestyle factors examined included diet/nutrition, physical activity, weight management, clinical and psychological aspects. Results The review identified consistent lifestyle recommendations for both ACS and T2DM, with overlaps in guidance for diet, physical activity, weight management, clinical, and psychological factors. The findings offer opportunity for integrated care strategies, potentially reducing duplicated lifestyle management efforts. The results lay the groundwork for more cohesive management of comorbid ACS-T2DM. Conclusions This research is relevant for healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients living with comorbid ACS-T2DM. Understanding the shared lifestyle factors provides valuable insights into the potential for integrated care. Recognising the overlap in existing clinical guidelines points to opportunity for a more streamlined and effective approach to managing comorbid ACS-T2DM. This knowledge can contribute to improved patient outcomes and seek to optimise healthcare resources.

Health inequities in cardiac care and cardiovascular guideline concordance in Australian migrant populations: data correlation for culturally and linguistically diverse populations (DatCALD) project

Abstract Background Evidence of inequities in acute cardiac care and concordance with cardiovascular guidelines in migrant populations have not been well documented in Australia. Additionally, knowledge of correlations between clinical data and population health data of these marginalised groups is seriously lacking. Purpose To establish an interactive population health atlas and perform data correlations to determine health inequities in cardiac care provision in emergency departments (EDs) and examine guideline concordance in migrant populations. Methods This study correlated population health data derived from public health surveillance systems with the clinical data of migrant populations in Australia. The interactive atlas has been established and data correlations between relevant variables have been produced. Degree of correlations were presented as a correlation coefficient (r). Results The evidence revealed a strong relationship between migrant status and poor cardiac care provision. Migrant populations who were born overseas in non-English-speaking (NES) countries were less likely to access universal health coverage in Australia (Medicare) and were more likely to live with socioeconomic disadvantage (r= 0.24). Birthplaces of migrants were associated with longer processing time for cardiac care in ED, including time to meet an ED doctor and total ED stay time (Figure 1). Migrant populations were less likely to receive cardiac care at triage within the recommended timeframe of 10 minutes (r= -0.35), whereas the Australian-born group were more likely to reach ED treatment within 10 minutes (r= -0.52). Interestingly, migrants who were born in English speaking countries had the strongest relationship with an ED stay longer than the recommended time of four hours (r= -0.42). An association between migrant populations and non-concordance with guidelines for management of chest pain was evident (Figure 2). The population born overseas in NES countries, resident in Australia ≥ 5 years had the strongest correlation with non-concordance (r= 0.50); whereas the Australian-born population were the most likely to meet the concordance guideline. The evidence suggested that permanent migrants entering Australia between 2000-2006 under family and skill stream visas have a higher likelihood of non-concordance with guidelines for chest pain management (r= 0.50) compared to those of this group who arrived in Australia after 2006. Conclusions Health inequities in cardiac care in ED and concordance with cardiovascular guidelines have been found to be associated with migrant status at varying degrees, related to their birthplace and duration of residency. Universal health coverage and sociocultural factors are related to those health inequities. Addressing these determinants of health, normalizing cultural competence and increase health service accessibility are recommended to promote and sustain health equities and wellbeing in these disadvantaged populations.Birthplace and ED provisionBirthplace and non-concordance

Effect of community based health insurance on healthcare services utilization in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundCommunity based health insurance (CBHI) is characterized by voluntary involvement, pooling of health risks and of funds occur within a community. It is becoming increasingly popular way to increase the use of healthcare services in low- and middle-income nations. Understanding the effect of CBHI on the level of health services utilization is a paramount for evidence based decision making. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the pooled effect of CBHI on health services utilization in Ethiopia.MethodsStudies were searched from PubMed, Google scholar, Web of Science, Research4life, Science Direct, African Journal Online and national websites for grey literatures. We were adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Cross sectional and quasi experimental studies were included. Studies were screened, and critically appraised for quality using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools. The data were extracted using Microsoft excel and exported to STATA 17 and RevMan 5.4.1 for further analysis. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q statistic and quantified with I2. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect size. Subgroup analysis was done to show variations of the effect sizes across study years.ResultA total of 1501 studies were identified, out of which only 14 of them were included in the final meta-analysis. Health services utilization among CBHI members and non-members was 69.1% [95%CI (57.1–81.1%)] versus 50.9% [95%CI (40.6–61.3%)] respectively (difference in the effect was 18.2%). The CBHI members were nearly three folds more likely to utilize health services as compared with their counterparts [OR = 2.54, 95%CI: (1.81, 3.57). On average, CBHI users had 1.14 increased health facility visits as compared to non-insured, mean difference (MD) = 1.14 visits with 95% CI (0.65–1.63).ConclusionThe CBHI has a significantly increased health service utilization in Ethiopia. Hence, it will have a great contribution to meet the health for all agenda in resource limited countries.

Randomised controlled trial of a psychotherapeutic intervention to improve quality of life and other outcomes in people who repeatedly self-harm: FReSH START study protocol

BackgroundSelf-harm is a major public health challenge, and repeated self-harm is common in those attending hospital following an episode. Evidence suggests psychological interventions could help people who self-harm, but few definitive studies have assessed their clinical and cost-effectiveness. Repeated self-harm is associated with poor quality of life, depression, suicide and increased health service costs which justify the development of psychotherapeutic interventions tailored for people with repeated self-harm.MethodsFReSH START is a multicentre individually 1:1 randomised controlled trial evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of standard care plus psychological therapy or standard care alone for adults (≥ 18 years) presenting at an emergency department (ED) with repeated self-harm. Recruiting 630 participants, it includes an internal pilot, economic evaluation and process evaluation. The intervention will be delivered by mental health staff working in acute settings, with experience of assessing and managing risk in people presenting to emergency services with self-harm. Staff will be trained and supervised to deliver one of three specially adapted therapies: psychodynamic interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy. Participants allocated to the intervention will receive one of the adapted therapies according to therapist allocation for up to 6 months via 12 weekly, one to one, 45–50-min sessions. The primary outcome is quality of life measured by the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure at 12 months post-randomisation. Secondary outcomes include suicidal intent, depression and cost-effectiveness. Data are collected using hospital attendance records and online/postal/telephone questionnaires at 6 and 12 months post-randomisation, with resource use additionally collected at 3 and 9 months.DiscussionThis protocol outlines a randomised controlled trial to investigate whether modified therapies are cost-effective and improve quality of life for people who repeatedly self-harm. Few interventions are proven to be deliverable in the NHS for this population. This study is strengthened by the involvement of qualified mental health workers experienced in managing risk as therapists.Trial registrationRegistered on August 03, 2021.IRAS number: 297939.ISRCTN: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN73357210.REC reference: 21/EE/0145.Sponsor: University of Leeds.

Epidemiology of Homebound Population Among Beneficiaries of a Large National Medicare Advantage Plan.

Interest in home-based care is increasing among Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The epidemiology of homebound MA beneficiaries is unknown. To determine the prevalence, characteristics, predictors, health service use, and mortality outcomes of homebound beneficiaries of a large national MA plan. Cross-sectional. National MA plan. Humana MA beneficiaries in 2022 (n = 2 435 519). Homebound status was assessed via in-home assessment using previously defined categories: homebound (never or rarely left home in the past month), semihomebound (left home with assistance, had difficulty, or needed help leaving home), and not homebound. Demographic, clinical, health service use, and mortality outcomes were compared by homebound status. In 2022, the overall prevalence of homebound beneficiaries was 22.0% (8.4% of beneficiaries were homebound, and 13.6% were semihomebound). In adjusted models, female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.36 [95% CI, 1.35 to 1.37), low-income status or dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid (OR, 1.56 [CI, 1.55 to 1.57]), dementia (OR, 2.36 [CI, 2.33 to 2.39]), and moderate to severe frailty (OR, 4.32 [CI, 4.19 to 4.45]) were predictive of homebound status. In multivariable logistic regression, homebound status was associated with increased odds of any emergency department visit (OR, 1.14 [ CI, 1.14 to 1.15]), any inpatient hospital admission (OR, 1.44 [CI, 1.42 to 1.46]), any skilled-nursing facility admission (OR, 2.18 [CI, 2.13 to 2.23]), and death (OR, 2.55 [CI, 2.52 to 2.58]). The study period overlapped the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and data were derived from a single national MA plan, which limits generalizability. Overall homebound prevalence in a national MA plan was 22.0% and was independently associated with increased health service use and mortality. Study findings can inform strategic initiatives to identify and manage care for homebound beneficiaries. Humana, under a collaborative research agreement with Johns Hopkins University.

Data linkage studies of primary care utilisation after release from prison: a scoping review

BackgroundPrimary care plays a central role in most, if not all, health care systems including the care of vulnerable populations such as people who have been incarcerated. Studies linking incarceration records to health care data can improve understanding about health care access following release from prison. This review maps evidence from data-linkage studies about primary care use after prison release.MethodsThe framework by Arksey and O’Malley and guidance by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) were used in this review. This scoping review followed methods published in a study protocol. Searches were performed (January 2012-March 2023) in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science Core Collection using key-terms relating to two areas: (i) people who have been incarcerated and (ii) primary care. Using eligibility criteria, two authors independently screened publication titles and abstracts (step 1), and subsequently, screened full text publications (step 2). Discrepancies were resolved with a third author. Two authors independently charted data from included publications. Findings were mapped by methodology, key findings and gaps in research.ResultsThe database searches generated 1,050 publications which were screened by title and abstract. Following this, publications were fully screened (n = 63 reviewer 1 and n = 87 reviewer 2), leading to the inclusion of 17 publications. Among the included studies, primary care use after prison release was variable. Early contact with primary care services after prison release (e.g. first month) was positively associated with an increased health service use, but an investigation found that a large proportion of individuals did not access primary care during the first month. The quality of care was found to be largely inadequate (measured continuity of care) for moderate multimorbidity. There were lower levels of colorectal and breast cancer screening among people released from custody. The review identified studies of enhanced primary care programmes for individuals following release from prison, with studies reporting a reduction in reincarceration and criminal justice system costs.ConclusionsThis review has suggested mixed evidence regarding primary care use after prison release and has highlighted challenges and areas of suboptimal care. Further research has been discussed in relation to the scoping review findings.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdowns on quality-of-life and health services access by socio-economic status in Australia.

This study examined changes in physical and mental health quality-of-life and health services access before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals of lower and higher socio-economic status (SES) in Australia. Difference-in-differences and logistic regression models were undertaken using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey and government data on COVID-19 lockdowns between January 2020 and February 2021. Individuals from higher SES reported larger decreases in mental health quality-of-life scores than those from lower SES after the onset of the pandemic. Those from lower SES reported less disruption with any health services (24.2% vs 30.4%; OR = 0.68; p < 0.001), specifically dental services (8.2% vs 15.4%; OR = 0.51; p < 0.001) and allied health services (5.9% vs 8.5%; OR = 0.60; p < 0.001), compared with those from higher SES. Additional days under lockdown were associated with reduced access to all health services (OR = 1.19). Furthermore, long-term health conditions (higher SES: OR = 1.54) and scores indicative of poorer physical (lower SES: OR = 1.17; higher SES: OR = 1.07) and mental health (lower SES: OR = 1.16; higher SES: OR = 1.12) were associated with increased health services disruption. While individuals from higher SES were more likely than those from lower SES to experience greater relative declines in mental health and increased disruption with health services access, individuals with a greater apparent need for health services, regardless of SES, may have faced inequalities in accessing these services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Improving medication adherence among persons with cardiovascular disease through m-health and community health worker-led interventions in Kerala; protocol for a type II effectiveness-implementation research-(SHRADDHA-ENDIRA)

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and at present, India has the highest burden of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI). A key reason for poor outcomes is non-adherence to medication.MethodsThe intervention is a 2 × 2 factorial design trial applying two interventions individually and in combination with 1:1 allocation ratio: (i) ASHA-led medication adherence initiative comprising of home visits and (ii) m-health intervention using reminders and self-reporting of medication use. This design will lead to four potential experimental conditions: (i) ASHA-led intervention, (ii) m-health intervention, (iii) ASHA and m-health intervention combination, (iv) standard of care. The cluster randomized trial has been chosen as it randomizes communities instead of individuals, avoiding contamination between participants. Subcenters are a natural subset of the health system, and they will be considered as the cluster/unit. The factorial cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) will also incorporate a nested health economic evaluation to assess the cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of the interventions on medication adherence among patients with CVDs. The sample size has been calculated to be 393 individuals per arm with 4–5 subcenters in each arm. A process evaluation to understand the effect of the intervention in terms of acceptability, adoption (uptake), appropriateness, costs, feasibility, fidelity, penetration (integration of a practice within a specific setting), and sustainability will be done.DiscussionThe effect of different types of intervention alone and in combination will be assessed using a cluster randomized design involving 18 subcenter areas. The trial will explore local knowledge and perceptions and empower people by shifting the onus onto themselves for their medication adherence. The proposal is aligned to the WHO-NCD aims of improving the availability of the affordable basic technologies and essential medicines, training the health workforce and strengthening the capacity of at the primary care level, to address the control of NCDs. The proposal also helps expand the use of digital technologies to increase health service access and efficacy for NCD treatment and may help reduce cost of treatment.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI), reference number CTRI/2023/10/059095.

The effects of a large-scale home visiting programme for child development on use of health services in Brazil.

Partnership between early childhood development interventions and primary health care services can help catalyse health care uptake by socially vulnerable families. This study aimed to assess the real-life effects of a large-scale home visiting programme [Primeira Infância Melhor (PIM)] in Brazil on the use of preventive (prenatal visits, well child visits, dentist visits and vaccination) and recovery (emergency room visits and hospitalization) health services. A quasi-experiment nested in a population-based birth cohort study was conducted. The intervention group was firstly defined as all children enrolled in PIM up to age 6 months, and afterwards stratified between those enrolled during pregnancy or after birth up to 6 months. Children receiving PIM were matched with controls on propensity scores based on 27 confounders to estimate effects on health service use from prenatal to age 2 years. Double adjustment was applied in outcome Quasi-Poisson regressions. No evidence was found for effects of PIM starting anytime up to 6 months (262 pairs), or for the children enrolled only after birth (133 pairs), on outcomes occurring after age 6 months. When the programme started during pregnancy (129 pairs), there was a 13% higher prevalence of adequate prenatal visits (prevalence ratio = 1.13; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.27), but no effect on use of any other health service. Sensitivity analyses suggested longer participation in the programme with reduced visitor turnover might improve its impact on prenatal visits. Integration between PIM and primary health care was not adequate to affect overall patterns of contacts with health services. Nevertheless, prenatal home visits showed potential to increase health service contact during a sensitive period of development, indicating the need to start such programmes before birth, when there is more time for maternal care, and family engagement in a network of services is facilitated.

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the standardised assessment of personality abbreviated scale.

This study was undertaken to translate the Standardised Assessment of Personality - Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS) into Japanese and to evaluate its validity and reliability. SAPAS is one of the most rapid tools for assessing personality disorder (PD) and has excellent sensitivity and good specificity, whereas other PD assessment tools require such a significant investment of time that they are infeasible for large surveys or routine clinical practice. Customary assessment in clinical practice ideally incorporates screening for PD, as it is associated with a substantial public health burden, including premature mortality and increased health service utilization. Furthermore, PD's status as a key prognostic variable of mental disorders also drives PD screening. While SAPAS has been translated into several languages, there has been no Japanese version. Therefore, we translated SAPAS into Japanese (SAPAS-J) and evaluated its reliability and validity. Study 1 recruited undergraduates to reveal its test-retest reliability. Although its internal consistency was not high, since the intent of the original SAPAS was to assess the broad character of personality disorder with the fewest possible items, minimal correlations between items were reasonable. We tested two factorial models, the single-factor model and the higher-order-single-factor model, and the latter offered better fitting. This higher-order model contained a three-factor structure corresponding to clusters described in DSM-5. It measures general PD traits as a common higher-order latent variable comprising those factors. Correlations of SAPAS-J with the much longer PD screening questionnaire in Study 1 and depressive and anxiety symptoms in Study 2 from the general population support its validity. Although validation for the clinical use of SAPAS-J is limited, our research with non-clinical populations demonstrated sufficient validity to justify its use in the context of psychopathological analog research. Since PD is understood as a continuum, the severity of which is distributed dimensionally, the analog study recruiting from the general population and attempting to reveal psychopathological mechanisms of PD is meaningful.

What role does community-based health insurance play in the utilisation of health services among households in Ethiopia? A community-based comparative cross-sectional study

ObjectiveIn Ethiopia, despite increased health service coverage, health service utilisation remains very low. However, evidence on the level of health service utilisation between insured and non-insured households in the study...

Defining "Essential Digital Health for the Underserved".

The World Health Organization envisions achieving "Health for All," to strive for equitable access to important health information and services to attain wellness (WHO 2023a). The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the Canadian health system toward increasing digital health services, which improved access for some but underserved others. Integrating digital health into holistic health services delivery deserves careful consideration. This paper introduces the concept of "essential digital health for the underserved," by first defining the terms "digital health," "essential" and "underserved." Then, we share a summary of a discussion at a May 2023 conference with stakeholders, including patients, caregivers, health professionals, health policy makers, private sectors and health researchers. A series of papers follow to explore how digital health can help chart a responsible course for the future of essential digital health in Canada. In this post-pandemic era - with a health human resources shortage through attrition and retirement, an increased health service demand from patients and a greater strain on our recovering economy - innovative solutions need to be implemented to strengthen our Canadian health system.

Virtual Rehabilitation and COVID-19: Varied Adoption and Satisfaction Among Patients and Providers Participating in a Multi-Site Survey Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled rapid healthcare adaptations including increased use of telehealth (TH) and virtual care (VC) to provide rehabilitation services. This multi-site cross-sectional survey study examined rehabilitation patients' and providers' experiences with service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the use of TH/VC. Patients and providers who received or provided rehabilitation services were recruited from 1 of 3 large, post-acute rehabilitation systems located in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants rated personal satisfaction with rehabilitation services received or rendered during the pandemic and willingness to use TH/VC in the future. Questions also addressed accessibility, ease of use, and perceived barriers to TH/VC use. The adoption and personal satisfaction of TH/VC for rehabilitation care varied between patients and providers. Patients reported higher levels of satisfaction compared to providers (P < .001). Patients who did not use TH/VC had higher satisfaction than those who did (P < .05). Patients were less willing than providers to use TH/VC (P < .001). Those who used TH/VC prior to the pandemic were more willing to use post-pandemic (P < .001). Patients reported TH/VC was useful in increasing health services accessibility yet were neutral as to the ability of TH/VC to improve outcomes. Patients and providers agreed that TH/VC was easy to learn and use. Medical providers found TH/VC more useful than therapy providers. Participants who used TH/VC during the pandemic are more willing to use the service again in the future. Understanding patient and provider preferences and perspectives is key to the continued use of TH/VC in rehabilitation care.

Child Marriage and Infant Mortality in Indonesia: A Spatial Analysis Approach

Spatial analysis approach is capable of identifying spatial clustering of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) across districts/cities in Indonesia. This information is essential for policymakers when developing appropriate health interventions at districts/cities level. At delivery, maternal age is one of the strongest predictors of infant mortality, which is closely related to child marriage. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between child marriage and IMR in Indonesia, which was controlled by the influence of maternal, household, and health factors. The results showed that there were spatial dependency on IMR in Indonesia. Analysis Regression Spatial Durbin Model showed that child marriage had a positive and significant relationship with IMR. Furthermore, it was discovered that IMR was influenced by several explanatory variables in districts and neighboring cities. To reduce mortality rate, there was a need to increase health services by developing neighboring areas and building access to areas with good health facilities. Educational initiatives are also important, emphasizing the importance of delaying the age of marriage and enforcing the minimum age limits. This approach empowered every child to marriage carefully and had good reproductive health knowledge that could decrease IMR in Indonesia.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Comprehensive Standardized Assessment for Information Continuity: What Does the Workforce Need

Introduction: Older adults living with frailty and multimorbidity interact with multiple care providers across different health settings increasing the risk for fragmented care and information discontinuity. Information discontinuity results in workforce inefficiencies and adverse health events, including duplication of assessment and diagnostics, medication errors and increased health service use. Standardized assessments potentiate integrated care by communicating consistent measures of health information between health care sectors and providers. InterRAI assessments facilitate integration through promoting a common language and aligning successive assessments across the care continuum.&#x0D; Description: We used a pragmatic case example of a theoretical medically-complex older adult to illustrate effective use of interRAI standardized assessments throughout the health care journey. The interRAI suite of instruments spans across the age continuum, from pediatrics to geriatrics, and is designed to be used across diverse care settings, including community services, primary care, home care, long-term care, acute care, inpatient and community mental health, and palliative services. The case example represents one patient’s assessment findings, derived from standardized assessment instruments, such as the contact assessment, home care assessment and long-term care facility assessment. Automated and embedded risk algorithms are generated as outputs from the assessment, acting as decision support tools to inform care planning for clinical, functional, and social support needs. Process schematics depict potential workflows, where instruments can guide care strategies and facilitate the flow of information between the care team members.&#x0D; Discussion: Integrating elements such as using a common language, standardized assessment items, and embedded decision support algorithms, can support effective communication and collaboration in the care of older adults between clinical settings. Risk algorithms and scales support real-time identification of care issues, with standardized assessment items allowing for changes in health status to be easily recognized. Operationalizing a suite of standardized assessment instruments across the health system offers advantages for the individual including improved continuity of care, as well as for organizations and the system through use of a consistent measurement of health metrics between health providers and sectors, and evaluating health system performance. Successful adoption of comprehensive assessment tools to support integration requires training, stakeholder engagement and time to embed work and care processes into practice.&#x0D; Conclusion: Standardized language and algorithms used in interRAI comprehensive assessments can increase capacity for integration and continuity of care across the full spectrum of health sectors and settings. Findings from this pragmatic case example demonstrate real-world application and utility of standardized assessments to support an integrated workforce.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF REHABILITATION IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract We conducted a systematic review of published literature though April 2023 to identify the experiences and outcomes of persons living with dementia (PLWD) undergoing post-acute care rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities (SNF). A systematic search for studies published in English was carried out in eight databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened articles and conducted a quality appraisal of selected studies. Forty-one articles met inclusion criteria. There was heterogeneity of study designs with most articles (n=33) being observational and cross-sectional, while randomized clinical trials (n=3) and qualitative studies (n=5) were less represented. Certain themes emerged from the results regarding patient outcomes and experiences. Measured outcomes demonstrated increased health service utilization, varied functional outcomes, and suboptimal patient care. Patient experiences included significant challenges with health care transitions, gaps in healthcare worker and caregiver knowledge &amp; education, emphasis on alternate models of care, and importance of goal alignment. Overall, this systematic review provides a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes and experiences of post-acute care rehabilitation in SNFs for PLWD. The findings highlight the need for alternative care pathways, improved healthcare transitions, tailored rehabilitation approaches, enhanced dementia training for healthcare professionals, and person-centered goal setting. By addressing these critical aspects, future interventions can be developed to improve the delivery of post-acute care for PLWD and enhance their health outcomes.

Feasibility of cognitive assessments post‐emergency department (ED) discharge: A longitudinal pilot study of Medicare‐enrolled adults 65 +

AbstractBackground50% of US adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) never receive a formal diagnosis. This compromises the wellbeing of persons living with ADRD and their care partners, increases health services utilization, and the costs‐of‐care. Wider screening and assessment for ADRD may increase access to supportive care that prevents or delays disease progression, ameliorates care partner burden, and alleviates costs.MethodA sample of Medicare‐enrolled individuals 65+ (n = 149) presenting to the Oregon Health &amp; Sciences University (OHSU) emergency department (ED) in Portland, Oregon between May 2022 and January 2023 were recruited and administered the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) up to one‐month post‐discharge. Study participants were queried about their physical health via the modified cumulative illness rating scale (M‐CIRS), while their cognitive health was assessed via the PROMIS Cognitive Measure Questions on Mental Clarity. Care utilization patterns were measured via review of subjects’ electronic health records (EHR) for three years prior to study enrollment date focusing on total hospitalizations, ED visits, and primary care (PC) visits. These reviews measured health care utilization across three groups comparing individuals with (A) un‐diagnosed cognitive impairment with (B) cognitively healthy individuals, and (C) individuals with a formal ADRD diagnosis.ResultStudy enrollment rate was 25.8% (n = 149) of individuals meeting eligibility requirements. Enrollment was limited to patients with an OHSU PC affiliated provider excluding the majority (ineligible n = 1681, 74%) of Medicare‐enrolled ED patients (total ED users available for recruitment was n = 2,258). Of those contacted, 10% declined participation due to lack of interest and 4% declined due to cognitive or health restraints. Time to administer instrument suite ranged between 26‐33 minutes.ConclusionMedicare‐enrolled adults 65+ recently discharged from the ED appear to be an acceptable population to administer cognitive assessments. Findings during the recruitment process show success at enrolling this population to the study and administration times did not appear burdensome in duration for those enrolled. This study provides preliminary evidence supporting a focus on older ED patients to administer cognitive assessments, linking outcomes to the EHR, and ultimately providing a platform for future research on the impact of under‐diagnosed ADRD on health outcomes and utilization.

Preparedness, impacts, and responses of public health emergencies towards health security: qualitative synthesis of evidence

BackgroundNatural and human-made public health emergencies (PHEs), such as armed conflicts, floods, and disease outbreaks, influence health systems including interruption of delivery and utilization of health services, and increased health service needs. However, the intensity and types of impacts of these PHEs vary across countries due to several associated factors. This scoping review aimed to synthesise available evidence on PHEs, their preparedness, impacts, and responses.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of published evidence. Studies were identified using search terms related to two concepts: health security and primary health care. We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines to select studies. We adapted the review framework of Arksey and O’Malley. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach and explained under three stages of PHEs: preparedness, impacts, and responses.ResultsA total of 64 studies were included in this review. Health systems of many low- and middle-income countries had inadequate preparedness to absorb the shocks of PHEs, limited surveillance, and monitoring of risks. Health systems have been overburdened with interrupted health services, increased need for health services, poor health resilience, and health inequities. Strategies of response to the impact of PHEs included integrated services such as public health and primary care, communication and partnership across sectors, use of digital tools, multisectoral coordination and actions, system approach to responses, multidisciplinary providers, and planning for resilient health systems.ConclusionsPublic health emergencies have high impacts in countries with weak health systems, inadequate preparedness, and inadequate surveillance mechanisms. Better health system preparedness is required to absorb the impact, respond to the consequences, and adapt for future PHEs. Some potential response strategies could be ensuring need-based health services, monitoring and surveillance of post-emergency outbreaks, and multisectoral actions to engage sectors to address the collateral impacts of PHEs. Mitigation strategies for future PHEs could include risk assessment, disaster preparedness, and setting digital alarm systems for monitoring and surveillance.

How does digital life influence the health service use among rural residents? Evidence from China.

The Healthy China strategy is an important development objective of the 14th Five-Year Plan and Vision 2035 in China, while health service use in rural China has been a weak link in this strategy. Nowadays, people's health service use will be influenced by digital technology due to the arrival of the Digital Age, and that is the reason why our interest is to discuss the effect of digital life on health service use among rural residents. We use the data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2020 to examine the effect of digital life on health service use among rural residents, and we use Instrumental Variables method to control the endogenous problem and use KHB model to discuss the mechanism of this effect. It was found that digital life has increased the health service use among rural residents significantly, and this result has been verified by robust test and Instrumental Variables method. Besides, digital life can increase health service use through the information channel effect and the health literacy effect indirectly. Moreover, digital life has a more significant impact on the residents with low social capital, low physical capital and low social trust, which represents the inclusivity of digital life. The results of our paper will be helpful to examine the effect of the digital policy on promoting the health service use in rural China, and our findings will provide evidence of how to use digital life to enhance health service use among rural residents. Based on this, the government should take measures to eliminate the digital divide between urban and rural areas by promoting the level of digital life among rural residents, paying more attention to the digital literacy development among them, and forging ahead toward the great goal of the Healthy China under the Digital Age.

Effectiveness and impact of community-based health insurance on health service utilization in northwest Ethiopia: a quasi-experimental evaluation.

Addressing the health challenges of lower socioeconomic groups in Ethiopia is still a huge problem. In that regard, the government piloted the community-based health insurance (CBHI) in 2011 in a few districts and subsequently scaled up. However, the effectiveness of the program on the utilization of health services and its impact was not well explored. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CBHI toward health services' utilization and its impact in northwest Ethiopia. A quasi-experimental matched comparison group evaluation design with sequential explanatory mixed methods was employed. To evaluate the CBHI program, the effectiveness and impact dimensions from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development framework were used. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 332 households enrolled in the CBHI program; 341 comparison households who did not enroll in the program were also randomly selected. A structured interviewer-administrated questionnaire was used to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of CBHI on health service utilization. The Propensity score matching model was employed for the estimation of the effect of the CBHI program on health service utilization. Challenges for program achievement toward health service utilization were explained through qualitative data and these were then analyzed thematically. The evaluation showed 1.3 visits per capita per year of health service utilization among CBHI members. Households enrolled in CBHI increased health service utilization by 6.9 percentage points (ATT = 0.069; 95% CI: 0.034, 0.114). There was an improvement in health service utilization after the introduction of CBHI, however, there are challenges: (i) shortage of human resources, (ii) out-of-stock of drugs and medical supplies, and (iii) long waiting times for service and reimbursement claims. These issues limit the success of the program toward health service utilization. The CBHI program contributed to health service utilization improvement among CBHI members. However, the utilization rate of health services among CBHI members is still less than the target stated for the program and also the WHO recommendation. Therefore, the findings of this evaluation can be used by program implementers, policy makers, and other stakeholders to overcome the identified challenges and to increase the success of the program.