Types Of Health Care Providers Research Articles

Parental experiences and perspectives of healthcare providers' genetic testing recommendations for their children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the United States.

Although genetic testing is recommended for all children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States, it remains unclear how many parents have received and followed these recommendations. This study aimed to assess parental experiences and perspectives of healthcare providers' genetic testing recommendations. A total of 1043 parents of children with ASD from Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge completed an online survey. Only about one-third of the parents (34.2%) reported that their children's providers had recommended genetic testing. Factors associated with whether parents received these recommendations included the type of healthcare providers diagnosing ASD, parents' knowledge of genetic testing, the age of their children's diagnosis, and the presence of certain co-occurring medical conditions in their children. Our study also revealed that most parents (76.9%) who received recommendations had pursued genetic testing for their children. Adherence to the recommendations was associated with the characteristics of the parents (i.e., age and employment status) and children (i.e., gender), and their trust in the information from providers. The findings highlight the critical role of healthcare providers in facilitating genetic testing among families of children with ASD. Healthcare providers are recommended to increase their competencies and practice in providing genetic testing recommendations for ASD, assist parents in navigating testing challenges, and support parents through the testing process.

A qualitative study about the public's perception of primary care providers.

With the growth of physician associates/assistants (PAs) and NPs providing primary care services, we sought to understand the public's perception of the different types of healthcare providers (HCPs) they might encounter in a clinical setting, such as primary care. This study aimed to evaluate public perceptions about various types of primary care providers (PCPs), identify public preferences for PCPs in relation to experience and training, and examine public preferences for PCP credentials. We conducted semistructured interviews with adults, and used inductive and deductive coding and reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the data. We reached thematic saturation after 12 completed interviews. Participants reported confusion about the types of HCPs they might encounter in a primary care setting (for example, physician, PA, NP). Participants who reported a preference for a physician valued more years in training and their role in the hierarchy of medicine; those who reported a preference for a PA or NP indicated that compassion, patience, and longer clinic visit times were most important to them. Previous reports suggested that the public might be confused by the different types of HCPs they might encounter during a primary care visit. Participants identified specific characteristics that are important when they are choosing their PCP. A direct, coordinated marketing campaign may be needed to educate the public and reduce confusion about different types of PCPs, how they contribute to safe and high-quality care, and ensure preference-concordant care.

Eosinophil count testing in patients with asthma varies by healthcare provider type in the US: a retrospective study

BackgroundPatients with asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype may be eligible for additional treatment options to improve disease control; however, the prevalence and frequency of eosinophil testing is unknown. This study assessed blood eosinophil count testing prevalence in patients with asthma by exacerbation frequency and healthcare provider (HCP) type.MethodsThis was a retrospective, longitudinal, real-world study (GSK ID: 214470) utilizing the Merative Explorys® Universe electronic health records database. Eligible patients had ≥ 2 asthma diagnostic codes (January 2016–December 2018) (Index date: first asthma diagnosis). Outcomes included patient demographics and clinical characteristics (12 months pre-index [baseline]), and prevalence of blood eosinophil count testing, stratified by exacerbation frequency (infrequent exacerbations [< 2]) or frequent exacerbations [≥ 2] or primary HCP (Allergist/Pulmonologist, a primary care physician [PCP] or other HCP) during the 12 months post-index (follow-up).ResultsOf 400,254 patients included (mean age: 51.2 years; 70.8% female), the most common provider type at baseline was a PCP (76.8%). A higher proportion of patients with frequent exacerbations had blood eosinophil count tests at baseline (55.4–69.5%) and follow-up (67.9–75.1%), compared with patients with infrequent exacerbations (55.5–63.7%, 62.4–67.3%). Significantly more patients in the Allergist/Pulmonologist subgroup had ≥ 1 blood eosinophil count test result compared with patients in the PCP subgroup at both baseline (59.9% vs. 50.7%; p < 0.001) and follow-up (59.0% vs. 56.2%; p < 0.001). In the total population, the mean (SD) number of tests ordered was 3.4 (5.3) and 4.1 (6.4) during the baseline and follow-up periods, respectively. A greater mean number of tests were ordered for patients with frequent exacerbations, most apparently in the Allergist/Pulmonologist subgroup during baseline and follow-up (7.4 vs. 4.9). For patients with frequent exacerbations and blood eosinophil count test results, the mean (SD) number of tests ranged from 3.1 (4.6) to 5.8 (8.3) at baseline and 5.1 (8.5) to 7.4 (10.6) during follow-up.ConclusionsThe prevalence of blood eosinophil count testing in patients with asthma remains suboptimal. Routine blood eosinophil count testing should be considered by HCPs for patients with asthma to increase identification of the eosinophilic asthma phenotype, which may inform the decision to advance to targeted biologic therapy.

Pathways of Care in the Hospital Visiting Patients Having Mental Health Problems in Central India

Background: There is a high community prevalence of mental health problems in India. Psychiatric patients often consult nonspecialist or unqualified health providers which results in significant treatment delays and poor mental health outcomes. Knowledge of existing treatment-seeking practices may be useful to design specific and effective awareness programs. Objectives: The objectives were to study the types of health-care providers contacted by patients suffering from different mental illnesses as well as assess the treatment delays and associated factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational descriptive study was done in a psychiatry clinic of a tertiary health care center and teaching hospital in Central India. The information was collected from consecutive newly visiting patients on two predefined weekdays through face-to-face interviews. A predesigned sociodemographic format and World Health Organization pathways interview schedule were used to assess pathways of care. Results: Data were collected from 157 participants. Majority of participants were males (58%). Mood disorders were the most common diagnostic category (28%), followed by substance-related disorders (23%) and anxiety disorders (21%). Eighty (51%) among the total participants consulted psychiatrist in the first visit. Allopathic practitioners were the second commonly consulted health provider category. The median delay in treatment was maximum in substance-related disorders (7 years). Conclusion: Significant delay in treatment was observed across all diagnostic categories. Training general practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses and a structured health-care referral system to enhance appropriate psychiatry consultations may be desirable to improve mental health outcomes in India.

Psychological Factors Influencing Healthcare Utilization in Breast Cancer Survivors with Pain.

Pain is a prevalent side-effect seen in breast cancer survivors (BCS). Psychological factors are known role-players in pain mechanisms. Both pain and psychological factors contribute to or interact with healthcare use (HCU). However, the association between psychological factors and HCU has never been investigated in BCS with pain, which is aimed in this study. Belgian BCS with pain (n = 122) were assessed by the Medical Consumption Questionnaire, Injustice Experienced Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire, Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Associations were analyzed using logistic and Poisson regressions. Opioid use was related to more catastrophizing and less psychological distress. Psychotropic drug was related to more psychological distress. Endocrine therapy related to less vigilance and awareness. Psychological distress related to all types of healthcare provider (HCP), with psychological distress negatively related to physiotherapy, psychology, and other primary HCP visits, and positively with visiting a general practitioner and secondary HCP. Catastrophizing related to more visiting behavior in primary HCP, except to a general practitioner. Perceived injustice related to more general practitioner and other primary HCP visits, but to fewer psychology visits. Illness perceptions are only related to visiting other primary HCP. Vigilance and awareness was related to more psychologist and secondary HCP visits. Our findings underscore the complex interplay between HCU and psychological factors in BCS with pain. Psychological distress was overall the most important psychological factor related to HCU, whether catastrophizing and perceived injustice were the most relevant related to HCP visits.

Informing Evidence-based Practice in Nutritional Genomics: An Educational Needs Assessment of Nutrition Care Providers in Canada.

Purpose: To investigate why Canadian nutrition care providers choose, or not, to integrate nutritional genomics into practice, and to evaluate the nutritional genomics training/education experiences and needs of nutrition providers in Canada, while comparing those of dietitians to non-dietitians.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed across Canada from June 2021 to April 2022.Results: In total, 457 healthcare providers (HCPs) [n = 371 dietitians (81.2%)] met the inclusion criteria. The majority (n = 372; 82.1%) reported having no experience offering nutritional genomics to clients (n = 4 did not respond). Of the 81 respondents with experience (17.9%), the most common reason to integrate nutrigenetic testing into practice was the perception that clients would be more motivated to change their eating habits (70.4%), while the most common reason for not integrating such tests was the perception that the nutrigenetic testing process is too complicated (n = 313; 84.1%). Dietitians were more likely than non-dietitians to view existing scientific evidence as an important educational topic (p = 0.002). The most selected useful educational resource by all HCPs was clinical practice guidelines (n = 364; 85.4%).Conclusions: Both dietitians and non-dietitians express a desire for greater nutritional genomics training/education; specific educational needs differ by type of HCP. Low implementation of nutrigenetic testing may be partly attributed to other identified barriers.

Establishing Best Practices in Telehealth Care for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in the United States: An e-Delphi Study.

Background: Telehealth care is now a key element of mainstream health care since the COVID-19 pandemic, with all types of health care providers joining the digital revolution. As a population experiencing health care disparities, adults with developmental disabilities and their supporters have described variable experiences with telehealth care that contribute to overall care quality and health outcomes. Methods: This e-Delphi study established consensus on best practices in telehealth care for adults with developmental disabilities in the United States. Online surveys and videoconferencing interviews were conducted with 44 expert panelists with experience with telehealth care and developmental disabilities, including adults with developmental disabilities, family members, direct support professionals, nurses, and health care providers. Results: Three rounds of surveys resulted in a set of 9 guidelines consisting of 42 items. The guidelines addressed 1) appropriate situations for telehealth care, 2) communication needs and preferences, 3) support person collaboration, 4) education and anticipatory guidance, 5) reminders, 6) coordination of care, 7) equitable and fair access, 8) privacy and safety, and 9) evidence-based practice. Conclusion: Health care providers can adopt these best practice guidelines to ensure telehealth care is provided equitably and safely to adults with developmental disabilities. Policy advocacy is needed for the uptake of these guidelines and for health care providers and adults with developmental disabilities to access the resources needed for safe and effective telehealth care use.

Through Patients' Eyes: Evaluating the Consent Process in Elective Orthopedic Surgery at a Tertiary Referral Center in Ireland.

Informed consent is a critical component of ethical clinical practice, particularly in elective orthopedic procedures. It ensures that patients understand the nature, benefits, and risks of the medical procedures they agree to undergo. This study aims to evaluate the informed consent process at Merlin Park University Hospital from the patient's perspective. This cross-sectional observational study included 140 participants undergoing elective orthopedic procedures. Data were collected via a questionnaire focusing on socio-demographic information and the informed consent process, including details on who provided the information, where and when the consent was signed, and patient understanding and satisfaction. Responses were analyzed using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The majority of participants were females, with 80 (57.1%) women and 60 (42.9%) men. The average age of the participants was 60.86 years. Most participants were employed, constituting 75 (53.6%) of the sample, and 55 (39.3%) had attained university or higher education. The most common procedures were total hip replacement, with 30 (21.4%) participants, and total knee replacement, with 20 (14.3%) participants. Information during the consent process was primarily provided by consultants in 80 (57.1%) cases. High satisfaction levels were reported, with 139 (99.3%) participants expressing satisfaction. Significant correlations were found between satisfaction and the type of healthcare provider, type of operation, and educational level. The informed consent process at Merlin Park University Hospital is generally effective, with high patient satisfaction and understanding. However, there is a preference for concise information delivery. Enhancing the process through personalized information delivery could further improve patient satisfaction and comprehension. These findings contribute valuable insights into patient-centered care and informed consent in elective orthopedic surgeries.

Adherence to Infection Prevention Practice Standard Protocol and Associated Factors Among Healthcare Workers.

Healthcare-associated infection affects more than 100 million patients annually. Healthcare workers' poor adherence to standard infection prevention and control procedures can result in many negative consequences, ranging from disability to death. A facility-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2021 among 379 healthcare workers selected using a stratified random sampling technique. All types of healthcare providers except pharmacy professionals were included in the study. Standardization and validation of the study tool were performed ahead of data collection. Multivariable regression was used to assess the variables associated with adherence. The study found that 60.2% of healthcare workers (95% CI, 55.1-65.2) had good adherence to infection prevention practices, and 68.7% and good knowledge of infection prevention practices. Training on infection prevention methods (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.04-2.72), availability of water supply at hand washing station (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI, 1.62-5.31), and attitude toward infection prevention (AOR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.65-4.24) were identified as predictors of adherence to infection prevention and control procedures. More than half of the participants had good adherence to infection prevention guideline practices. In-service infection prevention training, a consistent water supply at the hand washing station, and a positive attitude of participants were associated with good adherence to infection prevention practices.

Help-seeker satisfaction with diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus

Objective To examine help-seeker satisfaction with the first communication of a tinnitus diagnosis by a healthcare provider, whether help-seekers undertook treatment and how they rated this treatment. Design A survey design assessed tinnitus characteristics and distress, health status, help-seeking, diagnosis communication, treatment and patient satisfaction. Study sample A self-selected cohort and a population-based cohort. Results Satisfaction scores were examined against demographic, clinical factors, and type of healthcare provider. A total of 281 adults participated (median age 61.6, IQR = 10.8 years), 52.3% sought help for tinnitus and 22.4% received treatment. The most frequently seen healthcare providers were general practitioners (34.0%), audiologists (29.3%) and ear, nose and throat specialists (25.9%). About two-thirds (64.1%) of help-seekers were unsatisfied with the first communication of a tinnitus diagnosis they received, and 56.5% rated their first tinnitus treatment as poor. Help-seekers were significantly more satisfied with audiologists than other providers regarding the communication of the first tinnitus diagnosis. Higher tinnitus distress scores were significantly associated with lower patient satisfaction with communication of first tinnitus diagnosis. No other factors were associated with patient satisfaction. Conclusion There are significant communication barriers along the tinnitus clinical pathway. Identifying and addressing these barriers could improve patient satisfaction.

Cost of Care for Non-communicable Diseases: Which Types of Healthcare Providers are the Most Economical in India's Chhattisgarh State?

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) affect a large number of people globally and their burden has been growing. Healthcare for NCDs often involves high out-of-pocket expenditure and rising costs of providing services. Financing and providing care for NCDs have become a major challenge for health systems. Despite the high burden of NCDs in India, there is little information available on the costs involved in NCD care. The study was aimed at finding out the average monthly cost of outpatient care per NCD patient. The average cost was defined as all resources spent directly by government and citizens to get a month of care for a NCD patient. The cost borne by the government on public facilities was taken into account and activity-based costing was used to apportion it to the function of providing outpatient NCD care. For robustness, time-driven activity-based costing and sensitivity analyses were also performed. The study was conducted in Chhattisgarh State and involved a household survey and a facility survey, conducted simultaneously at the end of 2022. The surveys had a sample representative of the state, covering 3500 individuals above age of 30 years and 108 health facilities. The average monthly cost per NCD patient was Indian Rupees (INR) 688 for public providers, INR 1389 for formal for-profit providers and INR 408 for informal private providers and they managed 53.5, 34.3 and 12.0% of NCD patients respectively. The disease profile of patients handled by different types of providers was similar. The average cost per patient was lowest for the primary care facilities in the public sector. The average direct cost of NCD care for government and citizens put together was substantially higher in case of formal for-profit providers compared with public facilities, even after taking into account the government subsidies to public sector. This has implications for allocative efficiency and the desired public-private provider mix in health systems.

Exploring different health care providers´ perceptions on the management of diarrhoea in cholera hotspots in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A qualitative content analysis.

Global cholera guidelines support wider healthcare system strengthening interventions, alongside vertical outbreak responses, to end cholera. Well-trained healthcare providers are essential for a resilient health system and can create synergies with childhood diarrhoea, which has higher mortality. We explored how the main provider groups for diarrhoea in cholera hotspots interact, decide on treatment, and reflect on possible limiting factors and opportunities to improve prevention and treatment. We conducted focus group discussions in September 2022 with different healthcare provider types in two urban and two rural cholera hotspots in the North Kivu and Tanganyika provinces in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Content analysis was used with the same coding applied to all providers. In total 15 focus group discussions with medical doctors (n = 3), nurses (n = 4), drug shop vendors (n = 4), and traditional health practitioners (n = 4) were performed. Four categories were derived from the analysis. (i) Provider dynamics: scepticism between all cadres was prominent, whilst also acknowledging the important role all provider groups have in current case management. (ii) Choice of treatment: affordability and strong caregiver demands shaped by cultural beliefs strongly affected choice. (iii) Financial consideration on access: empathy was strong, with providers finding innovative ways to create access to treatment. Concurrently, financial incentives were important, and providers asked for this to be considered when subsiding treatment. (iv) How to improve: the current cholera outbreak response approach was appreciated however there was a strong wish for broader long-term interventions targeting root causes, particularly community access to potable water. Drug shops and traditional health practitioners should be considered for inclusion in health policies for cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases. Financial incentives for the provider to improve access to low-cost treatment and investment in access to potable water should furthermore be considered.

Facility capacity and provider knowledge for cholera surveillance and diarrhoea case management in cholera hotspots in the Democratic Republic of Congo – a mixed-methods study

ABSTRACT Background Wider healthcare-strengthening interventions are recommended in cholera hotspots and could benefit other types of diarrhoeal diseases which contribute to greater mortality than cholera. Objective Describe facility capacity and provider knowledge for case management of diarrhoea and cholera surveillance in cholera hotspots in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) among health facilities, drug shops, and traditional health practitioners. Methods We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed-method study, using focus group discussions, facility audits, and provider knowledge questionnaires during September and October 2022 in North Kivu and Tanganyika provinces, Eastern DRC. Content analysis was used for qualitative data. Quantitative data were summarised by facility level and healthcare provider type. Audit and knowledge scores (range 0–100) were generated. Multivariable linear regression estimated association between scores and explanatory factors. Qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated during interpretation. Results Overall, 244 facilities and 308 providers were included. The mean audit score for health facilities was 51/100 (SD: 17). Private facilities had an −11.6 (95% CI, −16.7 to −6.6) lower adjusted mean score compared to public. Mean knowledge score was 59/100 (95% CI, 57 to 60) for health facility personnel, 46/100 (95% CI, 43 to 48) for drug shop vendors and 37/100 (95% CI, 34 to 39) for traditional health practitioners. Providers had particularly low knowledge concerning when to check for low blood sugar, use of nasogastric tubes, and dosing schedules. Knowledge about case definitions for cholera was similar between groups (range 41–58%) except for traditional health practitioners for the definition during an outbreak 15/73 (21%). Conclusions Increasing awareness of cholera case definitions in this context could help improve cholera surveillance and control. Increased support and supervision, especially for private providers, could help ensure facilities are equipped to provide safe care. More nuanced aspects of case management should be emphasised in provider training.

Regional Anesthesia in the Austere Environment: Lessons Learned from Current Out-of-Hospital Practice.

Pain management for trauma in the extreme environment is vital for both casualty comfort and aiding safe extrication. However, adequate pain management in a resource-limited environment can be challenging and is often limited. We conducted a scoping review of the use of regional anesthesia in the prehospital environment, evaluating which regional anesthetic procedure was performed for various indications, their efficacy, and the type of healthcare provider delivering the anesthetic. A PRISMA-guided systematic literature review was conducted of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies reporting the use of regional anesthesia in the prehospital environment published before June 30, 2022. Thirty studies met the criteria and were included in the review. The most common types of regional anesthesia were fascia-iliaca compartment block (n = 317, from 12 studies) and femoral nerve block (n = 210, from 8 studies), along with various other blocks for a range of indications. These blocks had good efficacy and a low-risk profile and could be delivered by a wide range of healthcare providers. Regional anesthesia is an effective and non-resource-heavy pain management tool in prehospital environments, which may be applicable to austere settings. It can cover a wide range of injuries and can avoid systemic complications for casualties that may already be challenging to manage in out-of-hospital settings. Additionally, regional anesthesia can be effectively delivered by a wide range of providers. This review provides a holistic summary of pain management using regional anesthesia in the prehospital environment, with a discussion on its potential use in more extreme settings.

Addressing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems in the Community. Evaluation of a Consultation and Advise Team for Assessment, Support and Referral.

Youths with mental health problems are often not identified in primary healthcare, which may prevent or delay appropriate support. In the Netherlands, a Consultation and Advise expert team (CandA team) was implemented to support general practitioners (GPs), youth professionals and youths with mental health problems. This study investigates the team's scope, activities, stakeholders' and users' experiences. Interviews and focus groups with policymakers, healthcare professionals, parents and youths were analysed using ATLAS.ti. Demographics and mental health problems of 706 youths (0-18 years) consulting the CandA team, type of healthcare providers consulting the team, and type of care provided by the team (2015-2017) were analysed, using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Youths consulted the CandA team for 'other behavioural/psychological complaints' (41%); irritable/angry behaviour (14%); anxious/nervous behaviour (10%); overactivity (8%); feeling down/depressed (6%). CandA team services were used by GPs, youth counsellors, and youth physicians/nurses. Most stakeholders were positive about the team's services. The CandA team seems an adequate form of integrated assessment and support for youth mental health problems in the community. The team's composition, expertise and positioning are success factors. Cooperation with schools could be improved. Quantitative evaluation is needed to investigate effects of the team and adequacy of referrals.

User Centered Rare Disease Clinical Trial Knowledge Graph (RCTKG).

Drug development in rare diseases is challenging due to the limited availability of subjects with the diseases and recruiting from a small patient population. The high cost and low success rate of clinical trials motivate deliberate analysis of existing clinical trials to understand status of clinical development of orphan drugs and discover new insight for new trial. In this project, we aim to develop a user centered Rare disease based Clinical Trial Knowledge Graph (RCTKG) to integrate publicly available clinical trial data with rare diseases from the Genetic and Rare Disease (GARD) program in a semantic and standardized form for public use. To better serve and represent the interests of rare disease users, user stories were defined for three types of users, patients, healthcare providers and informaticians, to guide the RCTKG design in supporting the GARD program at NCATS/NIH and the broad clinical/research community in rare diseases.

The role of pediatricians in the diagnosis and management of IgE-mediated food allergy: a review.

Food allergy can often cause a significant burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems. The complexity of food allergy management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving different types of healthcare providers, including allergists, dieticians, psychologists, nurses, family practitioners and, of particular relevance for this article, pediatric primary caretakers. Pediatricians may be the first-line healthcare providers for food allergy: strategies for management and guideline adherence have been highlighted. This review article summarizes the up-to-date recommendations on the role of pediatricians in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of IgE-mediated food allergy. Early introduction of allergenic foods like peanut is known to be of importance to reduce the development of peanut allergy in infants, and pediatricians are essential for educating and supporting parents in this decision. In scenarios of limited allergist availability, as is often the case among rural, Medicaid and minority populations, pediatricians can assist in the evaluation and management of food allergy, and provide action plans, education and counselling for patients and families. Pediatric primary caretakers play a key role in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of IgE-mediated food allergy. As more diagnostic tools and therapies in food allergy become available, the need for a multidisciplinary team is paramount to optimize patient care.

Assessment of the knowledge of healthcare workers on monkeypox in Nigeria.

Monkeypox, a re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), poses a public health challenge in Nigeria. To effectively combat this disease, it is essential to assess the knowledge of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Nigeria concerning monkeypox outbreak. A cross-sectional web-based survey with 609 healthcare workers in Nigeria was conducted using a structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge of monkeypox. Data were coded and analyzed with Microsoft Excel and Python in Anaconda Jupyter Notebook. The majority of respondents (n=318, 52.2%) had good knowledge of MPXV but also had knowledge gaps regarding certain symptoms and disease similarities. Interestingly, respondents were completely unaware of the possibility of sexual transmission of the disease. However, they recognized the possible significant impact of monkeypox on the social and economic lifestyle of Nigerians (n=582, 95.6%, adjOR=21.181, 95% CI: 14.450-31.051). Respondents had mixed knowledge regarding the use of smallpox vaccines and antiviral agents for monkeypox prevention and treatment. Furthermore, a significant proportion (n=526, 86.4%, adjOR=0.159, 95% CI: 0.126-0.201) attributed the outbreak to bioterrorism. The logistic regression highlighted a strong influence of academic qualification, type of healthcare provider, years of experience, and geopolitical zone of practice, on monkeypox knowledge in Nigeria. The study highlights the importance of continuous education for healthcare professionals in Nigeria to improve monkeypox outbreak management. Despite their moderate performance, there are knowledge gaps in critical areas among HCWs, necessitating further research to explore reasons and influencing factors for knowledge levels.

Disparities in Healthcare-Seeking Behavior and Decision Preference Among Hispanics: A Comparative Study Across Races/Ethnicities, SES, and Provider Types.

Hispanics, the largest minority in America, have increased risk of several medical issues and face noteworthy health disparities. This study compares care-seeking behaviors and choice experience among Hispanics, Asians, Blacks, and Whites, considering SES (income, education, and insurance status) and across five healthcare provider (HCP) types. Concurrent analysis provides a comprehensive view of how and where inequity manifests in healthcare. A cross-sectional online survey assessed 1485 adults (Hispanic=314, Asian=313, Black=316, White=542, recruited through a panel agency) of the frequency of visiting primary care providers, dentists, optometrists, gynecologists, and specialists for chronic conditions. Participants also rated the importance of self-selecting a HCP and difficulty in finding one. Whites visited each HCP most regularly. Compared to Asians, more Hispanics saw specialists regularly (45.1% vs 56.5%, p=0.042), and Blacks saw dentists less (47.0% vs 38.3%, p=0.028) and gynecologists more often (21.2% vs 33.1%, p=0.024). No other frequency differences were observed among minorities. Low-income participants across four races saw dentists and gynecologists with comparable infrequency. Hispanics and Asians assigned similarly significantly lower self-choice importance and experienced more difficulty relative to Whites or Blacks. Participants with lower income or education visited HCPs less regularly yet perceived the same choice importance as higher-SES peers (p>0.05). Notably, discrepancies in visit frequency between Whites and minorities were more pronounced in higher-SES than lower-SES group. Differences in experiencing care-seeking difficulty were associated with income (p=0.029) and insurance type (p=0.009) but not education (p>0.05). Higher income and education increase healthcare utilization; however, racial disparities persist, particularly among higher-SES groups. Despite similarities among minorities, the extent of disparities varied by SES and provider type. The findings help explain evident inequity in healthcare access and health outcomes. Tailored patient education, culturally-specific navigation support, and more inclusive services are needed to address barriers faced by minorities and disadvantaged populations.

Is the quality of public health facilities always worse compared to private health facilities: Association between birthplace on neonatal deaths in the Indian states.

The role of place of delivery on the neonatal health outcomes are very crucial. Although the quality of care is being improved, there is no consensus about who is the better healthcare provider in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), public or private facilities. The aim of this study is to assess the differentials in neonatal mortality by the type of healthcare providers in India and its states. We used the data from the fourth wave of the National Family Health Survey 2015-16 (NFHS-4). Information on 259,627 live births to women within the five years preceding the survey was examined. Neonatal mortality rates for state and national levels were calculated using DHS methodology. Multi-variate logistics regression was performed to find the effect of birthplace on neonatal deaths. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to evaluate the relationship between place of delivery and neonatal deaths to account for the bias attributable to observable covariates. The rise in parity of the women and purchasing power influences the choice of healthcare providers. Increased neonatal mortality was found in private hospital delivery compared to public hospitals in Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states using propensity score matching analysis. However, analysis on the standard of pre-natal and post-natal care indicates that private hospitals generally outperformed public hospitals. The study observed a significant variation in neonatal mortality among public and private health care systems in India. Findings of the study urges that more attention be paid to the improve care at the place of delivery to improve neonatal health. There is a need of strengthened national health policy and public-private partnerships in order to improve maternal and child health care in both private and public health facilities.