Risk Management and Healthcare Policy

BACKGROUND: 61% of the infections around the world that have emerged to date are zoonotic. Evidence warns that the threat posed by zoonoses is on the rise, and the risk of a new pandemic is higher now than ever. Early identification of risk, populations at risk, and risk of transmission are essential steps towards a prevention, preparation and response to outbreaks. This review aims to look at the tools available for identifying and estimating risks and threats from one health perspective and finally propose a list of indicators which could assess the risk of transmission of disease at the humans, animals and the environment intersection...

PURPOSE: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive cost-effectiveness comparison between novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and warfarin in Chinese patients with left ventricular thrombosis (LVT). By incorporating the impact of volume-based procurement (VBP) policy for pharmaceuticals in China, this analysis intends to provide crucial insights for informed healthcare decision-making. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A Markov model was employed to simulate the disease progression of LVT over a 54-week time horizon, using weekly cycles and six mutually exclusive health states...

PURPOSE: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and depressive disorder (DD), which are associated with unhealthy lifestyles, are prevalent worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effects of regular aerobic exercise on cognitive function, depression, and the regulatory role of neurotrophic growth factors for providing scientific basis in preventing MCI and DD in healthy individuals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty members of the fitness center and 80 community residents were recruited, who were administered by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)...

PURPOSE: The IPSOS study provided evidence supporting the efficacy and tolerability of first-line atezolizumab compared to single-agent chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients ineligible for treatment with a platinum-containing regimen. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab specifically in this population, considering the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this analysis, a three-state Markov model was utilized...

INTRODUCTION: Health system strengthening efforts also entails streamlining an existing referral system in a particular context to improve quality of health care offered to people. Conceptually, the referral system in South Africa, is seemingly sound. Nevertheless, gaps exist in its implementation. The aim of this study was to explore health care professionals' perceptions of referral system implementation in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between the structural empowerment of first-line health managers and health facility performance, examining the mediating roles of resilience and social climate in shaping the ratings of Slovak hospitals. Additionally, we aim to investigate the deeper mechanisms of this relationship, particularly the impact of resilience and the social climate, which can positively influence it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data collection was conducted through a questionnaire survey in February 2022...

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic presents the possibility of future large-scale infectious disease outbreaks. In response, we conducted a systematic review of COVID-19 pandemic risk assessment to provide insights into countries' pandemic surveillance and preparedness for potential pandemic events in the post-COVID-19 era. OBJECTIVE: We aim to systematically identify relevant articles and synthesize pandemic risk assessment findings to facilitate government officials and public health experts in crisis planning...

BACKGROUND: The availability of various facilities that aid in providing expected services is necessary for the practice of pharmacy, which aims to make the best use of medications and other healthcare products and services. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the availability of dispensing and storage facilities at public and community pharmacies in Bahir Dar and Gondar towns. METHODS: In Gondar and Bahir Dar towns' public and private pharmacies, a facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to September 2023...

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the status of spiritual needs and influencing factors of postoperative breast cancer (BC) women undergoing chemotherapy. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study. A total of 173 participants completed a general information questionnaire and a Chinese version of the Spiritual Needs Scale at the Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital. Data were collected by purposive sampling from December 2022 to April 2023...

Artificial intelligence (AI) provides a unique opportunity to help meet the demands of the future healthcare system. However, hospitals may not be well equipped to handle safe and effective development and/or procurement of AI systems. Furthermore, upcoming regulations such as the EU AI Act may enforce the need to establish new management systems, quality assurance and control mechanisms, novel to healthcare organizations. This paper discusses challenges in AI implementation, particularly potential gaps in current management systems (MS), by reviewing the harmonized standard for AI MS, ISO 42001, as part of a gap analysis of a tertiary acute hospital with ongoing AI activities...

AIM: To evaluate the existing level of emergency capabilities among shared nurses and analyze the factors influencing these capabilities. METHODS: An descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to October 2023, a purposive sampling method was employed to select 340 shared nurses as the subjects for investigation in Nanchang and Ganzhou cities of Jiangxi Province, as well as Wenzhou city in Zhejiang Province. A self - designed questionnaire on the emergency capabilities of shared nurses was utilized for data collection...

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose special challenges in developing countries In Ethiopia, the growing NCD burden has raised a public health concern with significant social, economic, and developmental effects. Thus, the study sought to examine health communication practices in addressing the NCDs in Bahir Dar City of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. METHODS: A qualitative case study was conducted from January to April 2023. The study employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observations to gather data from health extension workers, NCD experts, and NCD focal persons about their experiences and perspectives regarding NCD prevention and control...

BACKGROUND: As future health workers, medical students' attitudes towards tuberculosis (TB) patients can impact TB control. However, in China, there is a lack of well-quantified assessment regarding the stigma among medical students towards TB patients. Therefore, this study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Tuberculosis related-Stigma Scale (TSS) in medical students and to apply the scale to measure stigma and its determinants. METHODS: A total of 1035 eligible medical students participated in the cross-sectional questionnaire...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide basic data for establishing strategies to maintain the core functions of health centers, and enable an effective response to emergency tasks in the event of future infectious disease disasters. METHODS: The participants were 41 workers from two public health centers in Seoul. They all had prior experience in responding to the early and middle stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions, and then analyzed using the deductive method of content analysis...

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BACKGROUND: In 2016, an innovative medical pricing reform called zero-markup drug policy (ZMDP) was implemented in selected pilot cities in China, which focuses on curbing the unreasonable growth of medical expenses. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of ZMDP on medical expenditure of stroke in western China. METHODS: The quantitative data of inpatients diagnosed with stroke was extracted from the medical insurance system in 7 tertiary public hospitals. An interrupted time series (ITS) was used to analyze the instantaneous level and long-term trend changes of hospitalization expenses per visit from January 2015 to November 2018...

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis destroyed lung constitutes a significant worldwide public health challenge, little is known about its associated risk factors and prognosis. Our study aimed to identify the risk factors of tuberculosis destroyed lung among pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung diseases. METHODS: Between January 2019 and December 2021, a case-control study was conducted at the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen in China. We collected the clinical data among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung diseases...

BACKGROUND: Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a hypermetabolic syndrome with high mortality rates. Early detection and prompt intravenous administration of dantrolene are crucial for effective management of MH. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive nationwide surveys on the availability of dantrolene and anesthesiologists' understanding of MH in China. METHODS: A nationwide survey was conducted between January 2022 and June 2022. Online questionnaires on the cognition of MH among anesthesiologists in China were sent through social platforms to anesthesiologists in mainland China...

BACKGROUND: E-referral systems, streamlining patient access to specialists, have gained global recognition yet lacked a comparative study between internal and external referrals in Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: This retrospective study utilized secondary data from the Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Centre system. The data covers 2020 and 2021, including socio-demographic data, referral characteristics, and specialties. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with external referrals...

PURPOSE: This study attempted to assess the perceived importance and performance of patient-safety nursing among operating room (OR) nurses and to identify the "concentrate here" level using importance-performance analysis (IPA). The goal was to identify the educational priorities of patient-safety nursing and to use it as foundational data to develop educational programs. METHODS: The IPA of patient-safety nursing (infection control, patient identification, specimen management, surgical coefficient, medical equipment and supplies, high-alert medicines, and damage prevention) was surveyed online for nurses in general hospitals in Korea, and the data of 47 participants were analyzed...