Service Planning Research Articles

Peran Bimbingan Konseling Pesantren dalam Meningkatkan Penguatan Karakter Siswa Madrasah Aliyah Baytul Mukarromah Watampone

Islamic boarding school counseling guidance is a form of implementing services provided to help students or santri to develop into individuals who are independent, responsible, creative, productive and behave honestly through character strengthening education. The values that exist in character education are included in Islamic boarding schools' guidance and counseling services. The role of Islamic boarding school counseling is to instill the habit of practicing Islamic teachings in students or santri in daily life through the practice of worship. With program material covering faith, morals and worship. Forming character cannot be done in an instant by giving advice, orders, or instructions, but with the role of the Islamic boarding school guidance and counseling program. The formation of character requires an example, patience, habituation, and repetition. Thus, the process of education and character strengthening will be experienced by students or santri as a form of personality or self-character experience. The values of religious and moral life will strengthen the character of cooperation, time discipline, courage, and confidence in daily activities and learning processes. This is a step to gain knowledge and be able to apply knowledge in the form of skills work and as a positive attitude. From the results of this study, several important things were obtained regarding the role of Islamic boarding schools as a character strengthening program in madrasas. First, helping students or santri in dealing with the problems of everyday life. Second, giving motivation to students or students and teachers in order to build a spirit of enthusiasm for service. Third, implementing the results of coaching as a character education agenda. Meanwhile, based on the role played by a guidance and counseling teacher, namely the planning of Islamic boarding school guidance and counseling services, the implementation of Islamic boarding school guidance and counseling services, and the evaluation of Islamic boarding school guidance and counseling reports. services carried out with Islamic boarding school counseling to students or santri can form a spiritual and emotional soul with moral development as character strengthening.

Short-term high-speed rail passenger flow prediction by integrating ensemble empirical mode decomposition with multivariate grey support vector machine

Short-term prediction of high-speed rail (HSR) passenger flow provides a daily ridership estimation for the near future, which is critical to HSR planning and operational decision making. This paper proposes a new methodology that integrates ensemble empirical mode decomposition with multivariate support vector machines (EEMD-MSVM). There are four steps in this hybrid forecasting approach: (i) explore the correlation of multivariate HSR passenger flows at various stations based on archived data; (ii) decompose empirical modes of historical passenger flows for each HSR station, using EEMD to generate a number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and a trend term; (iii) predict the IMF for each correlated station pair using MSVM; and (iv) reconstruct the refined IMF components to predict daily multivariate HSR passenger flows. The proposed EEMD-MSVM approach is demonstrated with multiple OD pairs along the Wuhan-Guangzhou HSR in China. Results from various origin-destination pairs, show that the EEMD-MSVM approach outperforms the existing ensemble empirical mode decomposition with grey support vector machine approach (EEMD-GSVM). With the multivariate approach, the mean absolute percentage error in demand prediction is reduced by 13.9%, 1.2%, 1.0%, 2.0%, and 2.7% and the mean absolute deviation is reduced by 78.8, 38.0, 4.4, 4.6, and 3.9, between these OD pairs respectively. Such increase in short-term demand prediction accuracy can significantly improve HSR service planning, operations, and revenue management in the real world.

Neoliberalism and the splintering of city-regionalism: the case of Denver’s regional transit agency in times of COVID-19 urban austerity

ABSTRACT Public transit service provision is fraught with contradictions and tensions, which today tend to converge around the city-regional scale of planning and governance. The promise of public transit is to promote economic development and improve regional accessibility, mobility, equity, and sustainability. However, these priorities can often conflict with each other, resulting in the splintering of the corresponding city-regional planning and governance structures set up to finance and deliver major transit infrastructure projects. Drawing upon a case study of transit-led city-regionalism in Denver, Colorado, USA, this article explores how the tensions and contradictions embedded within regional public transit service planning are exposed and exacerbated during times of financial austerity, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how the neoliberal goals of promoting transit-oriented redevelopment in Denver alongside expanding service to Denver’s wealthier suburbs clash with the pandemic-induced expediency of targeting transit service for front-line workers and transit-dependent populations in core urban neighborhoods. The article demonstrates that in times of COVID-19-induced urban austerity the entrepreneurial city-regional approach to infrastructure provision originally developed for the FasTracks expansion program is increasingly at odds with regional objectives to use mass transit to foster equity and transport justice.

No Association Between Medicare Advantage Providers' Network Restrictiveness and Star Rating Between 2013 and 2017: An Observational Study.

Medicare beneficiaries are increasingly enrolling in Medicare Advantage (MA), which employs a wide range of practices around restriction of the networks of providers that beneficiaries visit. Though Medicare beneficiaries highly value provider choice, it is unknown whether the MA contract quality metrics which beneficiaries use to inform their contract selection capture the restrictiveness of contracts' provider networks. We evaluated whether there are meaningful associations between provider network restrictiveness (across primary care, psychiatry, and endocrinology providers) and contracts' overall star quality rating, as well as between network restrictiveness and contracts' performance on access to care measures from the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey. Medicare Advantage contracts with health maintenance organization (HMO), local preferred provider organization (PPO), and point of service (POS) plans with available data. A cross-sectional analysis using multivariable linear regressions to assess the relationship between provider network restrictiveness and contract quality scores in 2013 through 2017. Statistical significance in the relationship between network restrictiveness and contract performance on quality measures. Across all study years, we included 562 unique contracts and 2801 contract-years. We find no evidence of consistent relationships between MA physician network restrictiveness and contract star rating. For primary care, psychiatry, and endocrinology, respectively, a 10 percentage point increase in restrictiveness was associated with a 0.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.01 to 0.04), 0.0008 (95% CI, -0.01 to 0.02), and -0.01 (95% CI, -0.01 to 0.001) difference in star rating (p-value > 0.05 for all). Similarly, we find no evidence of consistent relationships between network restrictiveness and access to care measures. Our findings suggest that existing MA contract quality measures are not useful for indicating differences in network restrictiveness. Given the importance of provider choice to beneficiaries, more specific metrics may be needed to facilitate informed decisions about MA coverage.

Characteristics of low, moderate and high severity trauma hospitalisations in a health region of Aotearoa New Zealand-10-year review.

To describe the incidence, characteristics, outcomes and hospital costs of patients admitted to hospital following trauma in a health region in Aotearoa New Zealand over a 10-year period. A retrospective, observational study used data from the Te Manawa Taki (TMT) regional trauma registry to identify patients of all ages and injury severities that were admitted to hospital following injuries from 2013 to 2022, inclusive. This study reports on incidence of injuries with regard to age, gender, ethnicity, injury severity score (ISS), injury characteristics and direct cost to TMT facilities. Searches identified 60,753 trauma events leading to patient admission to hospitals in the TMT region. Of these, 81.9% were low-severity trauma, 10.2% were moderate-severity trauma and 7.9% were high-severity trauma. There were statistically significant relationships between gender, ethnicity and ISS category. Males were more likely to be hospitalised for any traumatic injuries. High-severity trauma is dominated by road traffic injuries and low-severity trauma is dominated by falls. Advanced age was associated with higher injury severity. The direct cost of trauma care to TMT hospitals increased by 122% during the 10-year period. The study has identified the incidence, demographic features, severity, costs and outcomes for trauma patients admitted to hospitals in the TMT region of Aotearoa New Zealand over a continuous 10-year period. The volumes and costs of injury represent a significant burden on the health system, individuals and communities. Detailed understanding of the causes and costs of injuries of all severities will inform prevention activities, clinical quality improvement and health service planning.

Contraceptive access and use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study in South Africa and Zambia

Background The COVID-19 pandemic affected global access to health services, including contraception We sought to explore effects of the pandemic on family planning (FP) service provision and use in South Africa and Zambia, including on implant and intrauterine device (IUD) users’ desire and ability to obtain removal. Methods Between August 2020 and April 2021, we conducted surveys with 537 women participating in an ongoing longitudinal contraceptive continuation study. We also carried out in-depth interviews with 39 of the survey participants and 36 key informants involved in FP provision. We conducted descriptive analysis of survey responses and thematic analysis of interviews. Results Contraceptive use changed minimally in this sample with the emergence of COVID-19. Fewer than half of women (n=220) reported that they tried to access FP since the start of the pandemic. The vast majority of those seeking services were using short-acting methods and 95% were able to obtain their preferred method. The proportion of women not using a method before and after the start of the pandemic did not change in Zambia (31%), and increased from 8% to 10% in South Africa. Less than 7% of implant or IUD users in either country reported wanting removal. Among the 22 who sought removal, 10 in Zambia and 6 in South Africa successfully obtained removal. In qualitative interviews, those reporting challenges to service access specifically mentioned long queues, deprioritization of contraceptive services, lack of transportation, stock-outs, and fear of contracting COVID-19 at a facility. Key informants reported stock-outs, especially of injectables, and staff shortages as barriers. Conclusions We did not find a substantial impact of COVID-19 on contraceptive access and use among this sample; however, providers and others involved in service provision identified risks to continuity of care. As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, it continues to be important to monitor people’s ability to access their preferred contraceptive methods.

Task-Motion Planning System for Socially Viable Service Robots Based on Object Manipulation.

This paper presents a software architecture to implement a task-motion planning system that can improve human-robot interactions by including social behavior when social robots provide services related to object manipulation to users. The proposed system incorporates four main modules: knowledge reasoning, perception, task planning, and motion planning for autonomous service. This system adds constraints to the robot motions based on the recognition of the object affordance from the perception module and environment states from the knowledge reasoning module. Thus, the system performs task planning by adjusting the goal of the task to be performed, and motion planning based on the functional aspects of the object, enabling the robot to execute actions consistent with social behavior to respond to the user's intent and the task environment. The system is verified through simulated experiments consisting of several object manipulation services such as handover and delivery. The results show that, by using the proposed system, the robot can provide different services depending on the situation, even if it performs the same tasks. In addition, the system demonstrates a modular structure that enables the expansion of the available services by defining additional actions and diverse planning modules.

Building resilience of street-connected children during COVID-19: turning rights into practices through CINI method.

This article examines the methods and opportunities for SCC's meaningful participation that recognize their agency and are aligned with General Comment No. 21 (GC21) to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on Children in Street Situations (UNCRC, 1989). This article explains the application of CINI's core practice models which explains the child centrality in development practices for "turning rights into practice for children" derived from the Sustainable Development Goals, principles of Human Rights, UNCRC, and General Comment No. 20 (2016). The Institutional knowledge was practiced through child-led action research with street- connected children which resulted in the development of agency among SCC, peer researchers, and child advocates for resilience building within their community during COVID-19. Child in Need Institute (CINI) has been working with SCC since 1989 and has derived a rich body of experience from the interventions. CINI applied participatory approaches to practice, research, decision-making, and policy development; thus, facilitating children in the process of systematically gathering information with their peers, identifying key issues and problems faced by SCC, and securing support from duty bearers that were required for the survival within their situations. Drawing on the approach undertaken and the tools used in the participatory research and advocacy, this article reflects upon the processes and strategies that worked out in facilitating SCC's ability to exercise agency and resilience through evidence generation and advocacy during COVID-19 and the associated lockdown and beyond. Through capacity building on research tools, leadership and communication skills, SCC can build concrete evidence of their vulnerabilities and the gaps that pose as barriers to their access to existing support mechanisms. This evidence helps them to prioritize the solutions that are required to bring changes in their lives and that of their peers, with which they can advocate at different platforms that promote dialogs and negotiations between children and duty-bearers. A participatory research project funded by Wellcome Trust focused on the vulnerabilities faced by street-connected young people and the access to services available to them. It revealed the lack of understanding regarding SCC and their invisibility in data and planning of support services, the gaps in access to healthcare services, the social determinants of health including safety, and their exclusion in platforms for dialogs with duty bearers. They took these issues to local government leaders, service providers, and national and international advocacy platforms; and suggested solutions to local and world leaders to bring changes in their situations. This resulted in a marked increase in the responsiveness of service providers toward SCC during the period of COVID-19, and the increased agency and negotiation skills of peer leaders to support their communities and demand solutions during the period of COVID-19 and associated lockdown.

Distributions of walking access to public transport in Melbourne, Australia – Evidence on acceptable and tolerable walking distances

The international literature indicates a wide interest in the distances public transport users walk to access their services. Urban and transport planners seek information on acceptable walking distances (AWD) in the provision of minimum levels of service coverage. This study uses a large database from Melbourne, Australia, to analyze trip length frequency distributions (TLFD) of walking access and egress to consider AWD in a multimodal public transportation system and to examine tolerable walking distances (TWD). AWD provides a guide to planners about stop/station locations for desirable minimum service coverage. TWD is a representative maximum walking distance for assessing the effectiveness of that service provision and can be used in conjunction with AWD. A statistical distribution function for walking distances can facilitate the use of regional values for AWD and TWD in transit service planning. The Burr Type XII distribution is shown to provide a good fit to the observed data. This provides a valuable tool for the analysis of percentile walking distances and suggests a general framework for the study of AWD and TWD in any city or region.

Customers’ Attitudes and Perceived Constraints to E-Banking Services: A Survey Study in Albania

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to identify the level of satisfaction of customers of banks in Albania and the perceived limitations that hinder the development of electronic services. The purpose of the work is the analysis of clients’ perception of electronic banking services, the problems of ensuring client satisfaction and the development of proposals for its improvement. The methodological approach hinges on several key components: studying statistical data concerning banking services, conducting two-way analyses to explore variable interactions, conducting surveys to gather user insights, utilizing graphical methods to visualize the results, and employing generalization techniques to summarize research outcomes. The analysis of the development of the banking system of Albania, which showed a significant expansion of electronic services for customers, a substantial increase in the share of electronic transfers in their total number during 2010-2022. A survey of bank customers showed that the availability and flexibility of e-banking services are the most important attributes of their quality; however, there is an impact of perceived limitations on the increase in the number of e-banking users and the need to improve customer service has been proven. Despite the ease and speed of transactions, lower costs and time savings, customers do not rate e-banking as a high-quality service and demonstrate insufficient knowledge about these services. There is a need to improve communication with clients and to reduce costs or provide basic electronic banking services for free. The results and conclusions have practical significance in the development of financial and credit policy by the Government of Albania in the projection of the use of electronic technologies, for bank managers in the planning and marketing of banking services.

Sexual Well-Being and Aging Patterns: Findings of a Cluster Analysis among Older Adults in Portugal and Spain.

From a cross-cultural perspective, aging well may encompass pertinent challenges in terms of adjustment, sexual well-being, and satisfaction with life in the late years. Considering the paucity of empirical data concerning cultural diversity of experiencing aging, this study aims to help fill this gap by assessing the specific patterns of sexual satisfaction, adjustment to aging (AtA), and life satisfaction with life (SwL) of older adults in Portugal and Spain. This cross-national study included 326 older adults, age 65 and older, from Portugal and Spain. Five instruments were applied: (a) Adjustment to Aging Scale (ATAS); (b) Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS); (c) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale-Short (NSSS-S); (d) Mini-Mental State Exam; and (e) Sociodemographic, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire. K-means cluster analysis was employed to identify and characterize the clusters considering adjustments to aging, sexual satisfaction, and life satisfaction. One-way ANOVAs were conducted to analyze differences in sexual well-being among clusters. Findings indicated three clusters, which explained 77.7% (R-sq = 0.777) of the total variance: Cluster 1: "Most skilled" (n = 26, 8.0%), Cluster 2: "Least adjusted" (n = 115, 35.3%), and Cluster 3: "Aging strivers" (n = 185, 56.7%). Participants in Cluster 1 were mostly Portuguese, with high levels of AtA, sexual satisfaction, and SWL. Conversely, Cluster 2 included mostly Portuguese participants with moderate sexual satisfaction and lower levels of AtA and SwL. Participants from Cluster 3 were mostly Spanish, with moderate levels of AtA and reduced sexual satisfaction and SwL. This study innovates by exploring the elaborate interplay among sexual satisfaction, AtA, and SwL in a cross-cultural perspective, with implications for tailoring interventions, service planning, development, and evaluation of culturally diverse older populations.

Perceived barriers and opportunities of providing quality family planning services among Palestinian midwives, physicians and nurses in the West Bank: a qualitative study

BackgroundDespite advancements in family planning (FP) services, several barriers persist in the Occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), blocking women’s access to suitable, high-quality and equitable FP services. The aim of this study was to understand how healthcare providers perceive their abilities, barriers and opportunities in providing good quality FP services. Furthermore, it seeks to explore knowledge and training regarding FP among healthcare providers engaged in providing FP services.MethodsA qualitative study was undertaken from August to September 2022 in seven Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics distributed in three governorates and operating under the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) in the West Bank. Semi-structured, in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 13 health providers (Physicians, midwives and nurses), using an interview guide in Arabic language. Transcripts were subsequently analyzed using the six phases of reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFP services face various challenges, including shortages in resources such as staff, supplies, infrastructures and FP methods. Midwives possess significant potentials to offer accessible, high-quality, efficient and equitable FP services, yet, their capacities remain underutilized, representing a missed opportunity for a country like Palestine. The study provided a current overview of FP services while illustrating the need for quality FP services and the need for an updated continuous education and training, updated standardized guidelines and protocols and supportive supervision are needed across all levels of healthcare providers. Finally, providers reported a wide range of structural barriers to FP services.ConclusionsIt is crucial to meticulously address both community-related and health system factors to enhance the fulfillment of FP needs and reduce unintended and closely spaced pregnancies. Policymakers should invest in the development of laws and regulations regarding FP services, promoting a comprehensive and holistic approach to FP services. This includes formulating supportive policies, capacity building of human resources and maintaining security of FP commodities.

Are healthy ageing trajectories suitable to identify rehabilitation needs of the ageing population? An exploratory study using ATHLOS cohort data.

The ageing process is highly heterogeneous leading to diverse ageing trajectories. Such trajectories have been modelled to study trends and determinants of ageing and could potentially be used to inform the planning of rehabilitation services at population level. The objective of this paper was to explore whether healthy ageing trajectories are suitable to identify targets for rehabilitation interventions for the ageing population. Data from the Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) harmonized cohort and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), which is included in ATHLOS, were used. Growth mixture models were implemented to replicate healthy ageing trajectories modelled elsewhere as 'high stable', 'low stable', and 'rapid decline'. Regularized partial correlation networks were used to estimate expected-influence and bridge expected-influence centrality measures. Healthy ageing trajectories modelled with ATHLOS (N = 131116) and ELSA (N = 14904) were consistent with previous work. At the first individual wave, prevalence of problems of respondents in the 'high stable' and 'rapid decline' trajectories were comparable; at the last individual wave, prevalence remained similar for the 'high stable' but increased substantially in all domains for the 'rapid decline' trajectory. Expected-influence centrality measures provided different results than prevalence estimates. For instance, in the first individual wave mobility and carrying, moving, and handling objects had highest impact on overall functioning for the 'rapid decline' and 'high stable' trajectories, while the most prevalent functioning problems concerned cognition, pain, as well as energy and drive functions. Our study stressed the relevance of healthy ageing trajectories for identifying functioning domains and categories that need to be targeted by rehabilitation services in a heterogeneous ageing population. The use of such trajectories at country level has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the planning and delivery of rehabilitation interventions through health systems and to informed policy making.

Workload Indicator Staffing Need (WISN) as A Method for Analyzing Clinic Health Personnel Needs in Surakarta

Introduction: Health Human Resources (HR) has an important role in providing health services to the community. HR management has a positive effect on organizational performance. Lack of health human resources is an important obstacle in achieving the highest level of health and as a result will limit opportunities to achieve comprehensive health goals. Health workforce planning is an important element in health service planning in building a responsive and efficient health service system. The use of workforce planning methods can contribute to the analysis and decision-making process for allocating the right number of professionals. WISN as a workload-based method can provide more accurate staff needs. This method has been used in various countries and has proven its significance in policy making regarding recruitment, distribution, training and reduction of human resources. Objective: This research aims to analyze the need for health workers at the Surakarta City Clinic using the WISN method. Method: This type of research is descriptive qualitative using interview methods with respondents and observation. The research was conducted at the 'Aisyiyah Medical Center Surakarta Clinic. The data was processed using qualitative data analysis and simple statistical techniques. Result: The research results showed that the need for health workers at the AMC Clinic based on the WISN method was 1 Dentist, 2 General Practitioners, 2 Nurses, 2 Midwives and 1 Pharmacy Personnel, this shows that the Clinic has an excess number of General Practitioner health workers but a shortage of Nurses. Conclusion: The workload of General Practitioners and Dentists is low, the workload of Midwives and Pharmacy Personnel is normal, and the workload of Nurses is high.

Investigating urban mobility through multi-source public transportation data: A multiplex network perspective

The integration of multi-source and diverse spatio-temporal travel data provides a comprehensive insight into urban mobility. Using data from Shenzhen's public transportation system, this study presents an analytical framework based on multiplex networks to examine variations in multi-mode public transportation usage (metro, bus, taxi, and shared bike) and their correlation with the built environment. This framework encompasses the analysis of network topological characteristics, centrality, and communities. The examination of network topological characteristics reveals that the multiplex transportation network exhibits high global accessibility and local connectivity. Network centrality analysis, focusing on weighted outdegree centrality, captures the patterns of public transportation ridership. Centrality modeling, employing the light gradient boosting machine, demonstrates a nonlinear relationship between ridership and the built environment. Factors including population density, residential land use percentage, entertainment service density, restaurant density, and metro station density consistently exhibit positive correlations with ridership across different times of the day. The community structure analysis, using consensus community detection, indicates that distinct urban areas exhibit clustering behavior based on public transportation demand patterns, forming distinct communities that closely align with the functional zoning of urban planning. These findings could provide valuable insights for the strategic planning of transportation services and the built environment.

Reassembling Marseille’s mosaic: urban planning in service of a post-World War II imagined identity

ABSTRACT Socio-spatial divisions between districts in the North and South have marked the port-city of Marseille since the post-World War II urban reconstruction period. This article analyses the decades spanning the 1940s to the 1960s Vieux Port area as well as the HLM (Habitation à Loyer Modéré, or rent controlled properties) building projects in the North of the city. This reveals a dual strategy deployed by urban planners as well as municipal and national government officials in response to an increasing immigrant workforce involving relocation into HLMs and (re-)designing public spaces. City planners, architects, and officials aimed to reconfigure the neighbourhoods in which people were to be housed and to strengthen the narrative of Marseille as a Mediterranean gateway, attracting investors and tourists, a process which also helped the city to gain a favourable reputation in Europe. The way in which urban planning, social housing initiatives, and public space designs unfolded in post-World War II Marseille has played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s present-day social and geographical divisions.

Bulk water services delivery challenges in the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district municipality in South Africa's North West Province

AbstractThis study thoroughly examines the difficulties in providing bulk water services in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district municipality in the North West Province, with the end goal of giving comprehensive suggestions for operational and strategic improvements. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, employing semistructured interviews for gathering data from officials of various municipalities responsible for overseeing infrastructure within the geographical confines of the municipalities they serve. The findings identified themes indicative of the focus areas contributing to the bulk water services delivery challenges. These emphasized the importance of fostering a collaborative work environment, thus promoting organizational learning, and implementing effective change management to elevate service delivery standards. It identifies the necessity for heightened operational efficiency and advocates for a cultural shift within municipal operations. Strategic planning, marked by the creation and regular refinement of master plans, is highlighted alongside the implementation of robust project management practices. The study emphasizes the critical need for synchronizing municipal planning processes with statutory requirements and the changing demands of the local community. The research advocates for a flexible and responsive approach to master planning, which is indispensable for adapting to shifts in administrative frameworks and community needs. The study recommends the development of a dynamic master plan for water services, one that is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the evolving legislative landscape and community priorities. It also suggests that municipal authorities should ensure that the planning process remains inclusive and responsive to the residents' needs. Furthermore, training and capacity‐building initiatives for municipal officials could be instrumental in enhancing their ability to adapt to these changing demands and legislative environments.

Brain 3T magnetic resonance imaging in neonates: features and incidental findings from a research cohort enriched for preterm birth

Background and objectivesThe survival rate and patterns of brain injury after very preterm birth are evolving with changes in clinical practices. Additionally, incidental findings can present legal, ethical and practical...

A Cost Evaluation of COVID-19 Remote Home Monitoring Services in England.

Remote home monitoring services emerged as critical components of health care delivery from NHS England during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to provide timely interventions and reduce health care system burden. Two types of service were offered: referral by community health services to home-based care to ensure the right people were admitted to the hospital at the right time (called COVID Oximetry@home, CO@h); and referral by hospital to support patients' transition from hospital to home (called COVID-19 Virtual Ward, CVW). The information collected for the oxygen levels and other symptoms was provided via digital means (technology-enabled) or over the phone (analogue-only submission mode). This study aimed to evaluate the costs of implementing remote home monitoring for COVID-19 patients across 26 sites in England during wave 2 of the pandemic. Understanding the operational and financial implications of these services from the NHS perspective is essential for effective resource allocation and service planning. We used a bottom-up costing approach at the intervention level to describe the costs of setting up and running the services. Twenty-six implementation sites reported the numbers of patients and staff involved in the service and other resources used. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analysis were used to assess cost variations and quantify the relationship between the number of users and costs while adjusting for other service characteristics. The mean cost per patient monitored was lower in the CO@h service compared with the CVW service (£527 vs £599). The mean cost per patient was lower for implementation sites using technology-enabled and analogue data submission modes compared with implementation sites using analogue-only modes for both CO@h (£515 vs £561) and CVW (£584 vs £612) services. The number of patients enrolled in the services and the service type significantly affected the mean cost per patient. Our analysis provides a framework for evaluating the costs of similar services in the future and shows that the implementation of these services benefit from the employment of tech-enabled data submission modes.

The effectiveness of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) model in people with HIV: A cross sectional study.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are a chronic and disabling disease that has a significant impact on quality of life due to weakening of physical health, financial problems and social stigma. This study aims to validate the Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) model in people with human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) in Iran. Four hundred and fifty-two people with HIV from Imam Khomeini Hospital between the age of 18 and 65 years (men: 308, women: 144) participated in the research. anonymously completed a battery of questionnaires, namely the Persian basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration scale, SF-36, PSQI and mindful attention awareness scale. The method of the present study was the structural equation model. Current findings indicated there is a significant positive between mindfulness and need satisfaction, physical and mental health and, significant negative between mindfulness and quality and quantity of sleep. Mindfulness and need satisfaction are significant positive predictors of quality of life in people with HIV. Quality and quantity of sleep are significant negative predictors of quality of life in people with HIV. There is a positive significance between need satisfaction and physical and mental health but there is a negative significance between need satisfaction and quality and quantity. there is a negative significant between the quality and quantity of sleep with physical and mental health. Mindfulness facilitates the satisfaction of more psychological needs and improves the quality of sleep. The quality of sleep is a negative significant predictor for physical and mental health but the quantity of sleep is a negative significant predictor for physical health. The HRQOL model can explain 18% of physical health and 16% of mental health in people with HIV in Iran. The elements of this model can be useful in evaluating and treating people with HIV in the Iranian Population. They also can use the models to plan for better services.