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Arslan IG, Verheij RA, Hek K, Ramerman L. Lessons learned from a pay-for-performance scheme for appropriate prescribing using electronic health records from general practices in the Netherlands. Health Policy 2024; 149:105148. [PMID: 39241501 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A nationwide pay-for-performance (P4P) scheme was introduced in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2023 to incentivize appropriate prescribing in general practice. Appropriate prescribing was operationalised as adherence to prescription formularies and measured based on electronic health records (EHR) data. We evaluated this P4P scheme from a learning health systems perspective. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 participants representing stakeholders of the scheme: general practitioners (GPs), health insurers, pharmacists, EHR suppliers and formulary committees. We used a thematic approach for data analysis. RESULTS Using EHR data showed several benefits, but lack of uniformity of EHR systems hindered consistent measurements. Specific indicators were favoured over general indicators as they allow GPs to have more control over their performance. Most participants emphasized the need for GPs to jointly reflect on their performance. Communication to GPs appeared to be challenging. Partly because of these challenges, impact of the scheme on prescribing behaviour was perceived as limited. However, several unexpected positive effects of the scheme were mentioned, such as better EHR recording habits. CONCLUSIONS This study identified benefits and challenges useful for future P4P schemes in promoting appropriate care with EHR data. Enhancing uniformity in EHR systems is crucial for more consistent quality measurements. Future P4P schemes should focus on high-quality feedback, peer-to-peer learning and establish a single point of communication for healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- I G Arslan
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - R A Verheij
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, the Netherlands; Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Health Care Institute Netherlands, Diemen, the Netherlands
| | - K Hek
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - L Ramerman
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Xia H, Li J, Yang X, Zeng Y, Shi L, Li W, Liu X, Yang S, Zhao M, Chen J, Yang L. Effects of pay-for-performance based antimicrobial stewardship on antimicrobial consumption and expenditure: An interrupted time series analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32750. [PMID: 38975216 PMCID: PMC11226823 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the impact of pay-for-performance on antimicrobial consumption and antimicrobial expenditure in a large teaching hospital in Guangzhou, China. Methods We collected data from hospital information system from January 2018 through September 2022 in the inpatient wards. Antimicrobial consumption was evaluated using antibiotic use density (AUD) and antibiotic use rate (AUR). The economic impact of intervention was assessed by antimicrobial expenditure percentage. The data was analyzed using interrupted time series (ITS) analysis. Results Following the implementation of the intervention, immediate decreases in the level of AUD were observed in Department of Hematology Unit 3 (β = -66.93 DDDs/100PD, P = 0.002), Urology (β = -32.80 DDDs/100PD, P < 0.001), Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit 3 (β = -11.44 DDDs/100PD, P = 0.03), Cardiac Surgery (β = -14.30 DDDs/100PD, P = 0.01), ICU, Unit 2 (β = -81.91 DDDs/100PD, P = 0.02) and Cardiothoracic Surgery ICU (β = -41.52 DDDs/100PD, P = 0.05). Long-term downward trends in AUD were also identified in Organ Transplant Unit (β = -1.64 DDDs/100PD, P = 0.02). However, only Urology (β = -6.56 DDDs/100PD, P = 0.02) and Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit 3 (β = -8.50 %, P = 0.01) showed an immediate decrease in AUR, and long-term downward trends in AUR were observed in Pediatric ICU (β = -1.88 %, P = 0.05) and ICU Unit 1 (β = -0.55 %, P = 0.02). Conclusion This study demonstrates that the adoption of pay-for-performance effectively reduces antibiotic consumption in specific departments of a hospital in Guangzhou in the short term. However, it is important to recognize that the long-term impact of such interventions is often limited. Additionally, it should be noted that the overall effectiveness of the intervention across the entire hospital was not significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohai Xia
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Yang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingchao Zeng
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Shi
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weibin Li
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Shifang Yang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manzhi Zhao
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lianping Yang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Sanchez GV, Kabbani S, Tsay SV, Bizune D, Hersh AL, Luciano A, Hicks LA. Antibiotic Stewardship in Outpatient Telemedicine: Adapting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Core Elements to Optimize Antibiotic Use. Telemed J E Health 2024; 30:951-962. [PMID: 37856146 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid expansion of telemedicine has highlighted challenges and opportunities to improve antibiotic use and effectively adapt antibiotic stewardship best practices to outpatient telemedicine settings. Antibiotic stewardship integration into telemedicine is essential to optimize antibiotic prescribing for patients and ensure health care quality. We performed a narrative review of published literature on antibiotic prescribing and stewardship in outpatient telemedicine to inform the adaptation of the Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship framework to outpatient telemedicine settings. Our narrative review suggests that in-person antibiotic stewardship interventions can be adapted to outpatient telemedicine settings. We present considerations for applying the Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship to outpatient telemedicine which builds upon growing evidence describing care delivery and quality improvement in this setting. Additional applied implementation research is necessary to inform the application of effective, sustainable, and equitable antibiotic stewardship interventions across the spectrum of outpatient telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo V Sanchez
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sarah Kabbani
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sharon V Tsay
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Destani Bizune
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adam L Hersh
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Angelina Luciano
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lauri A Hicks
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Charbonneau M, Morgan SG, Gagnon C, Sadowski CA, Silvius JL, Tannenbaum C, Turner JP. Factors influencing the effects of policies and interventions to promote the appropriate use of medicines in high-income countries: A rapid realist review. Health Policy 2024; 142:105027. [PMID: 38452575 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The appropriate use of medicines has long been recognized as a fundamental component of medicine policies. We aimed to extract lessons from published research on how policy contexts and mechanisms can affect the outcomes of national- or health-system level interventions to promote appropriate medicine use (defined as an increase in underutilized medications or decrease in inappropriate medication use). METHODS We conducted a rapid realist review of published evidence concerning system-level policies to promote the appropriate use of medicines in high-income countries with universal prescription drug coverage. We searched MEDLINE and Embase to identify relevant publications. We used a realist evaluation framework to identify contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes for each intervention and to hypothesize which policy contexts and mechanisms supported successful outcomes in terms of relative changes in the prevalence of use of the specific medication classes targeted. RESULTS From 1,318 identified studies, 18 met our inclusion criteria. 13 distinct policies were identified. Three main policy-related factors underpinned successful interventions: involving providers and patients through program interventions; central coordination through national agencies dedicated to medicine policies; and the establishment of an explicit and integrated national medicine policy strategy. CONCLUSION Policymakers can improve coordination of national pharmaceutical policies to reduce harms from inappropriate medicines use, thus improving health outcomes through cost-effective programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Charbonneau
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Steven G Morgan
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
| | - Camille Gagnon
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cheryl A Sadowski
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - James L Silvius
- Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Cara Tannenbaum
- Faculties of Pharmacy and Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Michel Saucier Endowed Chair in Pharmacy, Health & Aging, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Justin P Turner
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Anders A. Reconsidering performance management to support innovative changes in health care services. J Health Organ Manag 2024; 38:125-142. [PMID: 38546186 PMCID: PMC10988776 DOI: 10.1108/jhom-12-2022-0379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE A large number of studies indicate that coercive forms of organizational control and performance management in health care services often backfire and initiate dysfunctional consequences. The purpose of this article is to discuss new approaches to performance management in health care services when the purpose is to support innovative changes in the delivery of services. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The article represents cross-boundary work as the theoretical and empirical material used to discuss and reconsider performance management comes from several relevant research disciplines, including systematic reviews of audit and feedback interventions in health care and extant theories of human motivation and organizational control. FINDINGS An enabling approach to performance management in health care services can potentially contribute to innovative changes. Key design elements to operationalize such an approach are a formative and learning-oriented use of performance measures, an appeal to self- and social-approval mechanisms when providing feedback and support for local goals and action plans that fit specific conditions and challenges. ORIGINALITY/VALUE The article suggests how to operationalize an enabling approach to performance management in health care services. The framework is consistent with new governance and managerial approaches emerging in public sector organizations more generally, supporting a higher degree of professional autonomy and the use of nonfinancial incentives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anell Anders
- Department of Business Administration, Lund University
School of Economics and Management, Lund, Sweden
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Park YS, Kim SY, Kim H, Jang SY, Park EC. Impact of financial incentives for infection prevention and management on antibiotic use: A Korea National Health Insurance cohort study. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:362-369. [PMID: 38198969 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Korean government implemented financial incentives to enhance infection prevention and management within general hospital settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of infection control compensation on antibiotic usage using a controlled interrupted time series analysis. METHODS The main unit of analysis was 270,901 inpatient episodes extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort Database from 2013 to 2019. The 96-month period was examined before and after the intervention, which was set to September 1, 2017, by applying a 1-year lag time after the incentive was introduced. Segmented regression was used to estimate the effects of interventions in a controlled interrupted time series. Hospitals that received nationwide financial incentives for infection prevention and management were included in the analysis. The study's primary outcome was the use of antibiotics based on the WHO Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics, and the secondary outcome was the number of days of antibiotic use as days of therapy (DOTs) per patient day (PD). RESULTS The probability of overall antibiotic use decreased between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 0.922; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.859-1.000). The difference in level change in the use of third-generation cephalosporins (OR,0.894; 95% CI, 0.817-0.977) and carbapenem (OR,0.790; 95% CI, 0.630-0.992) was significantly reduced between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals. The difference in slope change on DOTs/PD of glycopeptides was - 0.005 DOT/PDs, and that of carbapenem was - 0.003 between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals. CONCLUSION We observed that incentives for infection prevention and management have had a positive impact on some aspects of antibiotic usage. A partial decrease was observed in antibiotic use, accompanied by a modest reduction in DOTs/PD, particularly for antibiotics aimed at addressing multidrug-resistant pathogens. Further investigation is necessary to establish evidence for extending these incentives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shin Park
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Young Kim
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunkyu Kim
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Yong Jang
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Healthcare Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Cheol Park
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Hosaka Y, Muraki Y, Kajihara T, Kawakami S, Hirabayashi A, Shimojima M, Ohge H, Sugai M, Yahara K. Antimicrobial use and combination of resistance phenotypes in bacteraemic Escherichia coli in primary care: a study based on Japanese national data in 2018. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024; 79:312-319. [PMID: 38084874 PMCID: PMC10832589 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial use (AMU) in primary care is a contributing factor to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. We assessed the potential effects of AMU on the prevalence of a combination of resistance phenotypes in bacteraemic Escherichia coli in outpatient care settings between primary care facilities ('clinics') and hospitals. METHODS Population-weighted total AMU calculated from the national database was expressed as DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). National data for all routine microbiological test results were exported from the databases of a major commercial clinical laboratory, including 16 484 clinics, and the Japan Nosocomial Infections Surveillance, including 1947 hospitals. AMU and the prevalence of combinations of resistance phenotypes in bacteraemic E. coli isolates were compared between clinics and hospitals. RESULTS The five most common bacteria isolated from patients with bacteraemia were the same in clinics, outpatient settings and inpatient settings in hospitals, with E. coli as the most frequent. Oral third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones were the top two AMU outpatient drugs, except for macrolides, and resulted in at least three times higher AMU in clinics than in hospitals. The percentage of E. coli isolates resistant to both drugs in clinics (18.7%) was 5.6% higher than that in hospitals (13.1%) (P < 10-8). CONCLUSIONS Significant AMU, specifically of oral third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, in clinics is associated with a higher prevalence of E. coli isolates resistant to both drugs. This study provides a basis for national interventions to reduce inappropriate AMU in primary care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumiko Hosaka
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Muraki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacoepidemiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiki Kajihara
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sayoko Kawakami
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aki Hirabayashi
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Hiroki Ohge
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Sugai
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Yahara
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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Schuster A, Tigges P, Grune J, Kraft J, Greser A, Gágyor I, Boehme M, Eckmanns T, Klingeberg A, Maun A, Menzel A, Schmiemann G, Heintze C, Bleidorn J. GPs' Perspective on a Multimodal Intervention to Enhance Guideline-Adherence in Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: A Qualitative Process Evaluation of the Multicentric RedAres Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1657. [PMID: 38136690 PMCID: PMC10740691 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common reasons patients seeking health care and antibiotics to be prescribed in primary care. However, general practitioners' (GPs) guideline adherence is low. The RedAres randomised controlled trial aims to increase guideline adherence by implementing a multimodal intervention consisting of four elements: information on current UTI guidelines (1) and regional resistance data (2); feedback regarding prescribing behaviour (3); and benchmarking compared to peers (4). The RedAres process evaluation assesses GPs' perception of the multimodal intervention and the potential for implementation into routine care. We carried out 19 semi-structured interviews with GPs (intervention arm). All interviews were carried out online and audio recorded. For transcription and analysis, Mayring's qualitative content analysis was used. Overall, GPs considered the interventions helpful for knowledge gain and confirmation when prescribing. Information material and resistance were used for patient communication and teaching purposes. Feedback was considered to enhance reflection by breaking routines of clinical workup. Implementation into routine practice could be enhanced by integrating feedback loops into patient management systems and conveying targeted information via trusted channels or institutions. The process evaluation of RedAres intervention was considered beneficial by GPs. It confirms the convenience of multimodal interventions to enhance guideline adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Schuster
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paula Tigges
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Julianna Grune
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Judith Kraft
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Greser
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ildikó Gágyor
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mandy Boehme
- Institute of General Practice, University Hospital Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany (J.B.)
| | | | | | - Andy Maun
- Institute of General Practice/Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anja Menzel
- Institute of General Practice/Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Guido Schmiemann
- Department of Health Service Research, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Christoph Heintze
- Institute of General Practice, Charite University Hospital Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jutta Bleidorn
- Institute of General Practice, University Hospital Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany (J.B.)
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Stacherl B, Renner AT, Weber D. Financial incentives and antibiotic prescribing patterns: Evidence from dispensing physicians in a public healthcare system. Soc Sci Med 2023; 321:115791. [PMID: 36841224 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
To ensure sufficient access to healthcare in remote areas, some countries allow physicians to directly dispense prescribed drugs through on-site pharmacies. Depending on the medication prescribed, this may pose a significant financial incentive for physicians to over-prescribe. This study, therefore, explored the effect of on-site pharmacies on antibiotic dispensing in a social health insurance system. Investigating physicians' prescribing behavior is especially relevant in the case of antibiotics, as over-utilization expedites antimicrobial resistance, leading to the development of untreatable bacterial infections. The empirical analysis was based on comprehensive administrative data on 13,741 antibiotic prescriptions issued by all 4044 public general practitioners (GPs) in Austria between 2016 and 2019. Switches from dispensing to non-dispensing status (and vice versa) were exploited in a difference-in-difference framework to mitigate a potential selection bias. GPs with the right to dispense over the entire observed period were used as the control group, and those who had either lost or gained the right to dispense as the treatment group. The results from a log-linear mixed model show that not currently operating an on-site pharmacy is associated with a 9.2% lower dispensing rate (i.e., antibiotics per 1000 yearly consultations). The results are robust to potential differences between GPs who switch from dispensing to non-dispensing and those who switch from non-dispensing to dispensing, to potential patient sorting, and to different functional forms. A prescribing effect interpretation (i.e., financial incentives give rise to more prescriptions for antibiotics) explains the observed volume effect provided that the share of unfilled antibiotic prescriptions issued by non-dispensing physicians does not exceed 4%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Stacherl
- Health Economics and Health Policy Research Group, Institute for Advanced Studies Vienna (IHS), Josefstädter Straße 39, 1080, Vienna, Austria; Socio-Economic Panel, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), Mohrenstraβe 58, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Anna-Theresa Renner
- Department of Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the Institute of Spatial Planning, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 11, 1040, Vienna, Austria; Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, 1737 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Daniela Weber
- Health Economics and Policy Division, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020, Vienna, Austria; International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, OeAW, Univ. Vienna), Schlossplatz 1, 2361, Laxenburg, Austria.
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10
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Decline in oral antimicrobial prescription in the outpatient setting after nationwide implementation of financial incentives and provider education: An interrupted time-series analysis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2023; 44:253-259. [PMID: 35382915 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2022.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of nationwide outpatient antimicrobial stewardship interventions in the form of financial incentives for providers and provider education when antimicrobials are deemed unnecessary for uncomplicated respiratory infections and acute diarrhea. METHODS We collected data from a large claims database from April 2013 through March 2020 and performed a quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series analysis. The outcome of interest was oral antimicrobial prescription rate defined as the number of monthly antimicrobial prescriptions divided by the number of outpatient visits each month. We examined the effects of financial incentive to providers (ie, targeted prescriptions for those aged ≤2 years) and provider education (ie, targeted prescriptions for those aged ≥6 years) on the overall antimicrobial prescription rates and how these interventions affected different age groups before and after their implementation. RESULTS In total, 21,647,080 oral antimicrobials were prescribed to 2,920,381 unique outpatients during the study period. At baseline, prescription rates for all age groups followed a downward trend throughout the study period. Immediately after the financial incentive implementation, substantial reductions in prescription rates were observed among only those aged 0-2 years (-47.5 prescriptions per 1,000 clinic visits each month; 95% confidence interval, -77.3 to -17.6; P = .003), whereas provider education immediately reduced prescription rates in all age groups uniformly. These interventions did not affect the long-term trend for any age group. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the nationwide implementation of financial incentives and provider education had an immediate effect on the antimicrobial prescription but no long-term effect.
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Kühn L, Kronsteiner D, Kaufmann-Kolle P, Andres E, Szecsenyi J, Wensing M, Poss-Doering R. Implementation fidelity in a multifaceted program to foster rational antibiotics use in primary care: an observational study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2022; 22:243. [PMID: 36123597 PMCID: PMC9487096 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-022-01725-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ARena study (Sustainable Reduction of Antimicrobial Resistance in German Ambulatory Care) is a three-arm, cluster randomized trial to evaluate a multifaceted implementation program in a German primary care setting. In the context of a prospective process evaluation conducted alongside ARena, this study aimed to document and explore fidelity of the implementation program. METHODS This observational study is based on data generated in a three-wave survey of 312 participating physicians in the ARena program and attendance documentation. Measures concerned persistence of participation in the ARena program and adherence to intervention components (thematic quality circles, e-learning, basic expenditure reimbursements, additional bonus payments and a computerized decision support system). Participants' views on five domains of the implementation were also measured. Binary logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore which views on the implementation were associated with participants' adherence to quality circles and use of additional bonus compensation. RESULTS The analysis of fidelity showed overall high persistence of participation in the intervention components across the three intervention arms (90,1%; 97,9%; 92,9%). 96.4% of planned quality circles were delivered to study participants and, across waves, 30.4% to 93% of practices participated; 56.1% of physicians attended the maximum of four quality circles. 84% of the practices (n = 158) with a minimum of one index patient received a performance-based additional bonus payment at least once. In total, bonus compensation was triggered for 51.8% of affected patients. Participation rate for e-learning (a prerequisite for reimbursement of project-related expenditure) covered 90.8% of practices across all intervention arms, with the highest rate in arm II (96.5%). Uptake of expenditure reimbursement was heterogeneous across study arms, with a mean rate of 86.5% (89.1% in arm I, 96.4% in arm II and 74.1% in arm III). Participants' views regarding participant responsiveness (OR = 2.298) 95% CI [1.598, 3.305] and Context (OR = 2.146) 95% CI [1.135, 4.055] affected additional bonus payment. Participants' views on participant responsiveness (Beta = 0.718) 95% CI [0.479, 0.957], Context (Beta = 0.323) 95% CI [0.055, 0.590] and Culture of shared decision-making (Beta = -0.334) 95% CI [-0.614, -0.053] affected quality circle attendance. CONCLUSION This study showed an overall high fidelity to the implementation program. Participants' views on the implementation were associated with degree of intervention fidelity. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN, ISRCTN58150046.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Kühn
- Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dorothea Kronsteiner
- Institute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Edith Andres
- aQua Institut, Maschmuehlenweg 8-10, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Joachim Szecsenyi
- Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,aQua Institut, Maschmuehlenweg 8-10, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Michel Wensing
- Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Regina Poss-Doering
- Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Incentivizing appropriate prescribing in primary care: Development and first results of an electronic health record-based pay-for-performance scheme. Health Policy 2022; 126:1010-1017. [PMID: 35870964 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Part of the funding of Dutch General Practitioners (GPs) care is based on pay-for-performance, including an incentive for appropriate prescribing according to guidelines in national formularies. Aim of this paper is to describe the development of an indicator and an infrastructure based on prescription data from GP Electronic Health Records (EHR), to assess the level of adherence to formularies and the effects of the pay-for-performance scheme, thereby assessing the usefulness of the infrastructure and the indicator. METHODS Adherence to formularies was calculated as the percentage of first prescriptions by the GP for medications that were included in one of the national formularies used by the GP, based on prescription data from EHRs. Adherence scores were collected quarterly for 2018 and 2019 and subsequently sent to health insurance companies for the pay-for-performance scheme. Adherence scores were used to monitor the effect of the pay-for-performance scheme. RESULTS 75% (2018) and 83% (2019) of all GP practicesparticipated. Adherence to formularies was around 85% or 95%, depending on the formulary used. Adherence improved significantly, especially for practices that scored lowest in 2018. DISCUSSION We found high levels of adherence to national formularies, with small improvements after one year. The infrastructure will be used to further stimulate formulary-based prescribing by implementing more actionable and relevant indicators on adherence scores for GPs.
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Fredriksson M, Isaksson D. Fifteen years with patient choice and free establishment in Swedish primary healthcare: what do we know? Scand J Public Health 2022; 50:852-863. [PMID: 35596549 PMCID: PMC9578085 DOI: 10.1177/14034948221095365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background: In 2007, a reform of Swedish primary healthcare began when some regions implemented enhanced patient choice in combination with free establishment for private providers. Although heavily debated, in 2010 it became mandatory for all regions to implement this choice system. Aim: The aim of this article was to review all published research articles related to the primary healthcare choice reform in Sweden, to investigate what has been published about the reform and summarise its first 15 years. Methods: A scoping review was performed to cover the breadth of research on the reform. Searches were made in Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed for articles published between 2007 and 2021, resulting in 217 unique articles. In total, 52 articles were included. Results: The articles were summarised and presented in relation to six overarching themes: arguments about the primary healthcare choice reform; governance and financial reimbursements; choice of provider and use of information; effects on equity and access; effects on quality; and differences between private and public primary healthcare centres. Conclusions: The articles show that the reform has led to an increase in access to primary healthcare, but most studies indicate that the increase is inequitably distributed in terms of socioeconomy and geographical location. The effects on quality are unclear but several studies show that the mechanisms supposed to lead to quality improvements do not work as intended. Furthermore, from a population health perspective, it is time to discuss how such a responsibility can be reintegrated into primary healthcare and function with the choice system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mio Fredriksson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David Isaksson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Lin TK, Werner K, Witter S, Alluhidan M, Alghaith T, Hamza MM, Herbst CH, Alazemi N. Individual performance-based incentives for health care workers in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries: a systematic literature review. Health Policy 2022; 126:512-521. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Hawkins O, Scott AM, Montgomery A, Nicholas B, Mullan J, van Oijen A, Degeling C. Comparing public attitudes, knowledge, beliefs and behaviours towards antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance in Australia, United Kingdom, and Sweden (2010-2021): A systematic review, meta-analysis, and comparative policy analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261917. [PMID: 35030191 PMCID: PMC8759643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social and behavioural drivers of inappropriate antibiotic use contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recent reports indicate the Australian community consumes more than twice the defined daily doses (DDD) of antibiotics per 1000 population than in Sweden, and about 20% more than in the United Kingdom (UK). We compare measures of public knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) surrounding AMR in Australia, the UK and Sweden against the policy approaches taken in these settings to address inappropriate antibiotic use. METHODS National antimicrobial stewardship policies in Australia, Sweden, and the UK were reviewed, supplemented by empirical studies of their effectiveness. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL databases for primary studies of the general public's KAP around antibiotic use and AMR in each setting (January 1 2011 until July 30 2021). Where feasible, we meta-analysed data on the proportion of participants agreeing with identical or very similar survey questions, using a random effects model. RESULTS Policies in Sweden enact tighter control of community antibiotic use; reducing antibiotic use through public awareness raising is not a priority. Policies in the UK and Australia are more reliant on practitioner and public education to encourage appropriate antibiotic use. 26 KAP were included in the review and 16 were meta-analysable. KAP respondents in Australia and the UK are consistently more likely to report beliefs and behaviours that are not aligned with appropriate antibiotic use, compared to participants in similar studies conducted in Sweden. CONCLUSIONS Interactions between public knowledge, attitudes and their impacts on behaviours surrounding community use of antibiotics are complex and contingent. Despite a greater focus on raising public awareness in Australia and the UK, neither antibiotic consumption nor community knowledge and attitudes are changing significantly. Clearly public education campaigns can contribute to mitigating AMR. However, the relative success of policy approaches taken in Sweden suggests that practice level interventions may also be required to activate prescribers and the communities they serve to make substantive reductions in inappropriate antibiotic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Hawkins
- Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values, The Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Anna Mae Scott
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amy Montgomery
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Bevan Nicholas
- Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District, NSW Health, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Judy Mullan
- Centre for Health Research Illawarra Shoalhaven Population, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Antoine van Oijen
- Molecular Horizons, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Chris Degeling
- Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values, The Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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Ekawati FM, Claramita M. Indonesian General Practitioners' Experience of Practicing in Primary Care under the Implementation of Universal Health Coverage Scheme (JKN). J Prim Care Community Health 2021; 12:21501327211023707. [PMID: 34114507 PMCID: PMC8202246 DOI: 10.1177/21501327211023707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Indonesian government has been implementing Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) as the national universal coverage scheme to help Indonesian citizens affording medical care since 2014. However, after a few years of its implementation, a very limited study has been conducted to explore general practitioners' (GPs) views and experiences of practicing in primary care under JKN implementation. METHODS The study applied semi-structured interviews with GPs from January to February 2016, guided by a phenomenology approach in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. The GPs were recruited using a maximum variation sample design. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the data were analyzed thematically. RESULT A total of 19 GPs were interviewed. Three major themes emerged, namely: powerlessness, clinical resources, and administration. Transition to the JKN system has improved patient access to primary care without significant economic barrier, however, GP participants experienced a sense of powerless practice during JKN implementation. They also commented on limited clinical resources and claimed that JKN administration was complicated and burdened their practice. CONCLUSION This study identifies various perspectives from GPs practicing in primary care under JKN implementation. The JKN improves access to primary care practice, but there are limited supports for GPs to practice optimally and maintain their relationships with patients. Extensive improvements are needed to upgrade the GP practice in primary care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fitriana Murriya Ekawati
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
| | - Mora Claramita
- Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
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Arvidsson E, Dahlin S, Anell A. Conditions and barriers for quality improvement work: a qualitative study of how professionals and health centre managers experience audit and feedback practices in Swedish primary care. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:113. [PMID: 34126935 PMCID: PMC8201899 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01462-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background High quality primary care is expected to be the basis of many health care systems. Expectations on primary care are rising as societies age and the burden of chronic disease grows. To stimulate adherence to guidelines and quality improvement, audit and feedback to professionals is often used, but the effects vary. Even with carefully designed audit and feedback practices, barriers related to contextual conditions may prevent quality improvement efforts. The purpose of this study was to explore how professionals and health centre managers in Swedish primary care experience existing forms of audit and feedback, and conditions and barriers for quality improvement, and to explore views on the future use of clinical performance data for quality improvement. Methods We used an explorative qualitative design. Focus groups were conducted with health centre managers, physicians and other health professionals at seven health centres. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Four different types of audit and feedback that regularly occurred at the health centres were identified. The main part of the audit and feedback was “external”, from the regional purchasers and funders, and from the owners of the health centres. This audit and feedback focused on non-clinical measures such as revenues, utilisation of resources, and the volume of production. The participants in our study did not perceive that existing audit and feedback practices contributed to improved quality in general. This, along with lack of time for quality improvement, lack of autonomy and lack of quality improvement initiatives at the system (macro) level, were considered barriers to quality improvement at the health centres. Conclusions Professionals and health centre managers did not experience audit and feedback practices and existing conditions in Swedish primary care as supportive of quality improvement work. From a professional perspective, audit and feedback with a focus on clinical measures, as well as autonomy for professionals, are necessary to create motivation and space for quality improvement work. Such initiatives also need to be supported by quality improvement efforts at the system (macro) level, which favour transformation to a primary care based system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Arvidsson
- Futurum, Region Jönköping County, Sweden; School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
| | - Sofia Dahlin
- Futurum, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Anders Anell
- Lund University School of Economics & Management, Lund, Sweden
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18
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Granlund D, Zykova YV. Can Private Provision of Primary Care Contribute to the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance? A Study of Antibiotic Prescription in Sweden. PHARMACOECONOMICS - OPEN 2021; 5:187-195. [PMID: 33098069 PMCID: PMC8160061 DOI: 10.1007/s41669-020-00234-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing rates of antibiotic resistance, caused by increasing antibiotic use, pose a threat by making antibiotics less effective in treating infections. OBJECTIVE We aimed to study whether physicians working at privately and publicly owned health centres differed in the likelihood of prescribing antibiotics and choosing broad-spectrum over narrow-spectrum antibiotics. METHODS To estimate the effect of ownership on the probability of a prescribed drug being an antibiotic, we analysed all 4.5 million prescriptions issued from 2011 to 2015 at primary health centres in Västerbotten, Sweden. We controlled for patient age, sex, number of prescriptions per patient, and month of prescription, and used a maximum likelihood logit estimator. We then analysed how ownership affected the likelihood of a prescribed antibiotic being broad spectrum. We also used aggregated data to estimate the impact of the number of private health centres on the number of antibiotic prescriptions per inhabitant and the proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotics. RESULTS Holding other factors constant, private physicians were 6% more likely to prescribe antibiotics and 9% more likely to choose broad-spectrum antibiotics. An increase by one additional private health centre was positively associated with an increase in the number of antibiotic prescriptions per inhabitant and a higher proportion, although not significant, of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that private physicians prescribe more antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics, than public physicians. Therefore, it is crucial to provide health centres with incentives to follow guidelines for antibiotic prescription, especially when the level of private provision of primary healthcare is high.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yana V Zykova
- School of Business and Economics, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Tromsø, Norway.
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19
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Zaresani A, Scott A. Is the evidence on the effectiveness of pay for performance schemes in healthcare changing? Evidence from a meta-regression analysis. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:175. [PMID: 33627112 PMCID: PMC7905606 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06118-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated if the evidence on the success of the Pay for Performance (P4P) schemes in healthcare is changing as the schemes continue to evolve by updating a previous systematic review. METHODS A meta-regression analysis using 116 studies evaluating P4P schemes published between January 2010 to February 2018. The effects of the research design, incentive schemes, use of incentives, and the size of the payment to revenue ratio on the proportion of statically significant effects in each study were examined. RESULTS There was evidence of an increase in the range of countries adopting P4P schemes and weak evidence that the proportion of studies with statistically significant effects have increased. Factors hypothesized to influence the success of schemes have not changed. Studies evaluating P4P schemes which made payments for improvement over time, were associated with a lower proportion of statistically significant effects. There was weak evidence of a positive association between the incentives' size and the proportion of statistically significant effects. CONCLUSION The evidence on the effectiveness of P4P schemes is evolving slowly, with little evidence that lessons are being learned concerning the design and evaluation of P4P schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezou Zaresani
- University of Manitoba, Institute for Labor Studies (IZA) and Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (TTPI), 15 Chancellors Circle, Fletcher Argue Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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20
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Vengberg S, Fredriksson M, Burström B, Burström K, Winblad U. Money matters - primary care providers' perceptions of payment incentives. J Health Organ Manag 2021; ahead-of-print. [PMID: 33522211 DOI: 10.1108/jhom-06-2020-0225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Payments to healthcare providers create incentives that can influence provider behaviour. Research on unit-level incentives in primary care is, however, scarce. This paper examines how managers and salaried physicians at Swedish primary healthcare centres perceive that payment incentives directed towards the healthcare centre affect their work. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH An interview study was conducted with 24 respondents at 13 primary healthcare centres in two cities, located in regions with different payment systems. One had a mixed system comprised of fee-for-service and risk-adjusted capitation payments, and the other a mainly risk-adjusted capitation system. FINDINGS Findings suggested that both managers and salaried physicians were aware of and adapted to unit-level payment incentives, albeit the latter sometimes to a lesser extent. Respondents perceived fee-for-service payments to stimulate production of shorter visits, up-coding of visits and skimming of healthier patients. Results also suggested that differentiated rates for patient visits affected horizontal prioritisations between physician and nurse visits. Respondents perceived that risk-adjustments for diagnoses led to a focus on registering diagnosis codes, and to some extent, also up-coding of secondary diagnoses. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Policymakers and responsible authorities need to design payment systems carefully, balancing different incentives and considering how and from where data used to calculate payments are retrieved, not relying too heavily on data supplied by providers. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This study contributes evidence on unit-level payment incentives in primary care, a scarcely researched topic, especially using qualitative methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Vengberg
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mio Fredriksson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bo Burström
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Burström
- Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Winblad
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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21
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Ellegård LM. Effects of pay-for-performance on prescription of hypertension drugs among public and private primary care providers in Sweden. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT 2020; 20:215-228. [PMID: 31960248 PMCID: PMC7426314 DOI: 10.1007/s10754-020-09278-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study exploits policy reforms in Swedish primary care to examine the effect of pay-for-performance (P4P) on compliance with hypertension drug guidelines among public and private health care providers. Using provider-level outcome data for 2005-2013 from the Swedish Prescription Register, providers in regions using P4P were compared to providers in other regions in a difference-in-differences analysis. The results indicate that P4P improved guideline compliance regarding prescription of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. The effect was mainly driven by private providers, suggesting that policy makers should take ownership into account when designing incentives for health care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Maria Ellegård
- Department of Economics, Lund University, P.O. Box 7082, 220 07, Lund, Sweden.
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22
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Balinskaite V, Bou-Antoun S, Johnson AP, Holmes A, Aylin P. An Assessment of Potential Unintended Consequences Following a National Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in England: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 69:233-242. [PMID: 30339254 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The "Quality Premium" (QP) introduced in England in 2015 aimed to financially reward local healthcare commissioners for targeted reductions in primary care antibiotic prescribing. We aimed to evaluate possible unintended clinical outcomes related to this QP. METHODS Using Clinical Practice Research Datalink and Hospital Episode Statistics datasets, we examined general practitioner (GP) consultations (visits) and emergency hospital admissions related to a series of predefined conditions of unintended consequences of reduced prescribing. Monthly age- and sex-standardized rates were calculated using a direct method of standardization. We used segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series to evaluate the impact of the QP on seasonally adjusted outcome rates. RESULTS We identified 27334 GP consultations and >5 million emergency hospital admissions with predefined conditions. There was no evidence that the QP was associated with changes in GP consultation and hospital admission rates for the selected conditions combined. However, when each condition was considered separately, a significant increase in hospital admission rates was noted for quinsy, and significant decreases were seen for hospital-acquired pneumonia, scarlet fever, pyelonephritis, and complicated urinary tract conditions. A significant decrease in GP consultation rates was estimated for empyema and scarlet fever. No significant changes were observed for other conditions. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study show that overall there was no significant association between the intervention and unintended clinical consequences, with the exception of a few specific conditions, most of which could be explained through other parallel policy changes or should be interpreted with caution due to small numbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Balinskaite
- Dr Foster Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Bou-Antoun
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, London, United Kingdom.,Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, National Institute for Health Research, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan P Johnson
- Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, National Institute for Health Research, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Holmes
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Aylin
- Dr Foster Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Primary Care and Public Health, London, United Kingdom.,Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, National Institute for Health Research, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Oerther S, Oerther DB. The ethical challenges of antimicrobial resistance for Nurse practitioners. Nurs Open 2020; 7:904-906. [PMID: 32587708 PMCID: PMC7308707 DOI: 10.1002/nop2.453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Oerther
- School of Nursing Saint Louis University St. Louis Missouri
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24
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Dietrichson J, Ellegård LM, Kjellsson G. Patient choice, entry, and the quality of primary care: Evidence from Swedish reforms. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2020; 29:716-730. [PMID: 32187777 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Policies aiming to spur quality competition among health care providers are ubiquitous, but their impact on quality is ex ante ambiguous, and credible empirical evidence is lacking in many contexts. This study contributes to the sparse literature on competition and primary care quality by examining recent competition enhancing reforms in Sweden. The reforms aimed to stimulate patient choice and entry of private providers across the country but affected markets differently depending on the initial market structure. We exploit the heterogeneous impact of the reforms in a difference-in-differences strategy, contrasting more and less exposed markets over the period 2005-2013. Although the reforms led to substantially more entry of new providers in more exposed markets, the effects on primary care quality were modest: We find small improvements of patients' overall satisfaction with care, but no consistently significant effects on avoidable hospitalisation rates or satisfaction with access to care. We find no evidence of economically meaningful quality reductions on any outcome measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Dietrichson
- VIVE-The Danish Center for Social Science Research, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Gustav Kjellsson
- Department Economics and Centre for Health Economics (CHEGU), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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25
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Biro A, Elek P. The effect of primary care availability on antibiotic consumption in Hungary: a population based panel study using unfilled general practices. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e028233. [PMID: 31519670 PMCID: PMC6747682 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We analyse the effect of primary care availability on antibiotic consumption and on the quality of antibiotic prescribing behaviour. DESIGN Retrospective panel design, secondary analysis of settlement-level administrative panel data (n=2320 settlements, T=72 months). PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING We analyse antibiotic consumption of the population of villages in Hungary, over years 2010 to 2015. We exploit the geographical and time variation in unfilled (mainly single-handed) general practices as a source of exogenous variation in the availability of primary care. We control for socioeconomic characteristics and settlement fixed effects in a panel regression framework. OUTCOME MEASURES Antibiotic expenditures and days of therapy (DOT); consumption of narrow-spectrum and broad-spectrum antibiotics; consumption of Access, Watch and Reserve antibiotics according to the AWaRe categorisation; number of visits to the general practitioner (GP). RESULTS If the general practice of a village becomes unfilled, the number of GP visits decreases on average by 9.3% (95% CI 5.6% to 12.9%), antibiotics DOT decrease on average by 3.2% (95% CI 1.0% to 5.4%) and expenditures on antibiotics decrease on average by 2.5% (95% CI 0.3% to 4.7%). The negative effect on antibiotic consumption is stronger in settlements where secondary care is less available, and where antibiotics were previously overprescribed. The quality of prescribing behaviour measured by the relative changes in the narrow-spectrum vs broad-spectrum as well as the Access versus Watch and Reserve antibiotics deteriorates significantly as a consequence of worse primary care availability. CONCLUSIONS Limited availability of primary care reduces the consumption of antibiotics and at the same time impairs the quality of prescriptions through a decrease of the number of doctor-patient encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniko Biro
- Institute of Economics at the Centre for Economic and Regional Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Elek
- Institute of Economics at the Centre for Economic and Regional Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Rogers Van Katwyk S, Grimshaw JM, Nkangu M, Nagi R, Mendelson M, Taljaard M, Hoffman SJ. Government policy interventions to reduce human antimicrobial use: A systematic review and evidence map. PLoS Med 2019; 16:e1002819. [PMID: 31185011 PMCID: PMC6559631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing political attention to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) offers a rare opportunity for achieving meaningful action. Many governments have developed national AMR action plans, but most have not yet implemented policy interventions to reduce antimicrobial overuse. A systematic evidence map can support governments in making evidence-informed decisions about implementing programs to reduce AMR, by identifying, describing, and assessing the full range of evaluated government policy options to reduce antimicrobial use in humans. METHODS AND FINDINGS Seven databases were searched from inception to January 28, 2019, (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PAIS Index, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and PubMed). We identified studies that (1) clearly described a government policy intervention aimed at reducing human antimicrobial use, and (2) applied a quantitative design to measure the impact. We found 69 unique evaluations of government policy interventions carried out across 4 of the 6 WHO regions. These evaluations included randomized controlled trials (n = 4), non-randomized controlled trials (n = 3), controlled before-and-after designs (n = 7), interrupted time series designs (n = 25), uncontrolled before-and-after designs (n = 18), descriptive designs (n = 10), and cohort designs (n = 2). From these we identified 17 unique policy options for governments to reduce the human use of antimicrobials. Many studies evaluated public awareness campaigns (n = 17) and antimicrobial guidelines (n = 13); however, others offered different policy options such as professional regulation, restricted reimbursement, pay for performance, and prescription requirements. Identifying these policies can inform the development of future policies and evaluations in different contexts and health systems. Limitations of our study include the possible omission of unpublished initiatives, and that policies not evaluated with respect to antimicrobial use have not been captured in this review. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge this is the first study to provide policy makers with synthesized evidence on specific government policy interventions addressing AMR. In the future, governments should ensure that AMR policy interventions are evaluated using rigorous study designs and that study results are published. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42017067514.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Rogers Van Katwyk
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Global Strategy Lab, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, Faculty of Health and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeremy M. Grimshaw
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Miriam Nkangu
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ranjana Nagi
- Global Strategy Lab, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, Faculty of Health and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc Mendelson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Monica Taljaard
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven J. Hoffman
- Global Strategy Lab, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, Faculty of Health and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, and McMaster Health Forum, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Global Health & Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Malmgren A, Biswanger K, Lundqvist A, Zaoutis T. Education, decision support, feedback and a minor reward: a novel antimicrobial Stewardship intervention in a Swedish paediatric emergency setting. Infect Dis (Lond) 2019; 51:559-569. [PMID: 31088317 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2019.1606933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Sweden enjoys a favourable situation with regard to antimicrobial resistance. However, healthcare costs are expected to increase exponentially, along with increased morbidity and mortality, due to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. Our aim was to design an antimicrobial stewardship programme suitable for Scandinavian settings. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted in a Swedish paediatric emergency department, evaluating adherence to national guidelines for acute otitis media and acute tonsillitis. The programme consisted of educational outreach, decision support, feedback, and a minor reward upon reaching a pre-defined adherence rate. Results: The largest impact, significant for both diagnoses, was on the practice of refraining from antibiotic use when recommended. The other variables evaluated showed no significant improvement for either condition; however, in most cases, pre-interventional adherence was already high. Conclusions: This relatively easily implementable ASP intervention showed a significant effect on correctly refraining from the use of antibiotics. Previous interventions in Scandinavia either failed to accomplish this or have been more logistically difficult. The combination of education, decision support, email-based feedback and a minor reward, offers an alternative. Future research will be needed to assess whether the result is sustainable, as well as to identify additional barriers to the judicious use of antibiotics not addressed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Malmgren
- a Department of Pediatric Medicine , Queen Silvia Children's Hospital , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Karin Biswanger
- b Department of Pediatric Medicine , Södra Älvsborg Hospital , Borås , Sweden
| | - Anders Lundqvist
- c Department of Infectious Diseases , Södra Älvsborg Hospital , Borås , Sweden
| | - Theoklis Zaoutis
- d Division of Infectious Diseases and the Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness , Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia , PA , USA
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Ellegård LM, Glenngård AH. Limited Consequences of a Transition From Activity-Based Financing to Budgeting: Four Reasons Why According to Swedish Hospital Managers. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2019; 56:46958019838367. [PMID: 30983464 PMCID: PMC6466459 DOI: 10.1177/0046958019838367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Activity-based financing (ABF) and global budgeting are two common reimbursement models in hospital care that embody different incentives for cost containment and quality. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe perceptions from the provider perspective about how and why replacing variable ABF by global budgets affects daily operations and provided services. The study setting is a large Swedish county council that went from traditional budgeting to an ABF system and then back again in the period 2005-2012. Based on semistructured interviews with midlevel managers and analysis of administrative data, we conclude that the transition back from ABF to budgeting has had limited consequences and suggest 4 reasons why: (1) Midlevel managers dampen effects of changes in the external control; (2) the actual design of the different reimbursement models differed from the textbook design; (3) the purchasing body's use of other management controls did not change; (4) incentives bypassing the purchasing body's controls dampened the consequences. The study highlights the challenges associated with improvement strategies that rely exclusively on budget system changes within traditional tax-funded and politically managed health care systems.
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Unpacking quality indicators: how much do they reflect differences in the quality of care? BMJ Qual Saf 2017; 27:4-6. [DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2017-006782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Outpatient care facilities provide a variety of basic healthcare services to individuals who do not require hospitalisation or institutionalisation, and are usually the patient's first contact. The provision of outpatient care contributes to immediate and large gains in health status, and a large portion of total health expenditure goes to outpatient healthcare services. Payment method is one of the most important incentive methods applied by purchasers to guide the performance of outpatient care providers. OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of different payment methods on the performance of outpatient care facilities and to analyse the differences in impact of payment methods in different settings. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), 2016, Issue 3, part of the Cochrane Library (searched 8 March 2016); MEDLINE, OvidSP (searched 8 March 2016); Embase, OvidSP (searched 24 April 2014); PubMed (NCBI) (searched 8 March 2016); Dissertations and Theses Database, ProQuest (searched 8 March 2016); Conference Proceedings Citation Index (ISI Web of Science) (searched 8 March 2016); IDEAS (searched 8 March 2016); EconLit, ProQuest (searched 8 March 2016); POPLINE, K4Health (searched 8 March 2016); China National Knowledge Infrastructure (searched 8 March 2016); Chinese Medicine Premier (searched 8 March 2016); OpenGrey (searched 8 March 2016); ClinicalTrials.gov, US National Institutes of Health (NIH) (searched 8 March 2016); World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (searched 8 March 2016); and the website of the World Bank (searched 8 March 2016).In addition, we searched the reference lists of included studies and carried out a citation search for the included studies via ISI Web of Science to find other potentially relevant studies. We also contacted authors of the main included studies regarding any further published or unpublished work. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised trials, non-randomised trials, controlled before-after studies, interrupted time series, and repeated measures studies that compared different payment methods for outpatient health facilities. We defined outpatient care facilities in this review as facilities that provide health services to individuals who do not require hospitalisation or institutionalisation. We only included methods used to transfer funds from the purchaser of healthcare services to health facilities (including groups of individual professionals). These include global budgets, line-item budgets, capitation, fee-for-service (fixed and unconstrained), pay for performance, and mixed payment. The primary outcomes were service provision outcomes, patient outcomes, healthcare provider outcomes, costs for providers, and any adverse effects. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS At least two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. We conducted a structured synthesis. We first categorised the comparisons and outcomes and then described the effects of different types of payment methods on different categories of outcomes. We used a fixed-effect model for meta-analysis within a study if a study included more than one indicator in the same category of outcomes. We used a random-effects model for meta-analysis across studies. If the data for meta-analysis were not available in some studies, we calculated the median and interquartile range. We reported the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and the relative change for continuous outcomes. MAIN RESULTS We included 21 studies from Afghanistan, Burundi, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States of health facilities providing primary health care and mental health care. There were three kinds of payment comparisons. 1) Pay for performance (P4P) combined with some existing payment method (capitation or different kinds of input-based payment) compared to the existing payment methodWe included 18 studies in this comparison, however we did not include five studies in the effects analysis due to high risk of bias. From the 13 studies, we found that the extra P4P incentives probably slightly improved the health professionals' use of some tests and treatments (adjusted RR median = 1.095, range 1.01 to 1.17; moderate-certainty evidence), and probably led to little or no difference in adherence to quality assurance criteria (adjusted percentage change median = -1.345%, range -8.49% to 5.8%; moderate-certainty evidence). We also found that P4P incentives may have led to little or no difference in patients' utilisation of health services (adjusted RR median = 1.01, range 0.96 to 1.15; low-certainty evidence) and may have led to little or no difference in the control of blood pressure or cholesterol (adjusted RR = 1.01, range 0.98 to 1.04; low-certainty evidence). 2) Capitation combined with P4P compared to fee-for-service (FFS)One study found that compared with FFS, a capitated budget combined with payment based on providers' performance on antibiotic prescriptions and patient satisfaction probably slightly reduced antibiotic prescriptions in primary health facilities (adjusted RR 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.74 to 0.96; moderate-certainty evidence). 3) Capitation compared to FFSTwo studies compared capitation to FFS in mental health centres in the United States. Based on these studies, the effects of capitation compared to FFS on the utilisation and costs of services were uncertain (very low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Our review found that if policymakers intend to apply P4P incentives to pay health facilities providing outpatient services, this intervention will probably lead to a slight improvement in health professionals' use of tests or treatments, particularly for chronic diseases. However, it may lead to little or no improvement in patients' utilisation of health services or health outcomes. When considering using P4P to improve the performance of health facilities, policymakers should carefully consider each component of their P4P design, including the choice of performance measures, the performance target, payment frequency, if there will be additional funding, whether the payment level is sufficient to change the behaviours of health providers, and whether the payment to facilities will be allocated to individual professionals. Unfortunately, the studies included in this review did not help to inform those considerations.Well-designed comparisons of different payment methods for outpatient health facilities in low- and middle-income countries and studies directly comparing different designs (e.g. different payment levels) of the same payment method (e.g. P4P or FFS) are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Yuan
- Peking UniversityChina Center for Health Development Studies (CCHDS)38 Xueyuan RoadBeijingBeijingChina100191
| | - Li He
- Peking UniversityChina Center for Health Development Studies (CCHDS)38 Xueyuan RoadBeijingBeijingChina100191
| | - Qingyue Meng
- Peking UniversityChina Center for Health Development Studies (CCHDS)38 Xueyuan RoadBeijingBeijingChina100191
| | - Liying Jia
- Shandong UniversityCenter for Health Management and Policy, Key Lab for Health Economics and Policy Research, Ministry of HealthJinanShandongChina250012
- Ministry of HealthKey Lab for Health Economics and Policy ResearchShandongChina
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