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Bracke M, Molenaar J, Colliers A, Marchal B, Sanders D, Van Belle S, Van Praag L, van Olmen J. Evaluation study of the urban governance of the COVID-19 crisis in the city of Antwerp. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2117. [PMID: 39103793 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19569-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded crisis management at all governance levels. While most research has focused on responses of national governments, city-level governance had significant potential to develop tailored approaches. This study explored how the local COVID-19 response was organised and adapted to the specific city population and context in the City of Antwerp, Belgium. METHODS A case study using semi-structured interviews was set up with 20 key informants with a central role in the coordination and implementation of the city-level COVID-19 response in Antwerp. Thematic analysis of transcripts was guided by an adapted version of the OECD risk management cycle. RESULTS Respondents' accounts provide a granular understanding of pandemic preparedness, crisis management, and response and adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis in a mid-size European city. Its size was large enough to have a strong capacity within its government bodies, to utilise the expertise of strong partners in the area and to mobilise a critical mass for action, yet small enough to quickly establish connections and trust. In addition to a universal approach, they developed tailored responses to specific neighbourhoods and groups. Well-established community and organisational ties enhanced the effectiveness of grassroots initiatives. The perceived feeling of joint action contributed to a strong collective agency, but respondents noted the need for a system for monitoring and learning. CONCLUSIONS Local governments are important to develop tailored strategies and organise a locally relevant crisis response in cities. They need expertise and agency, with enough flexibility to experiment. To harness promising practices and avoid repeating errors in future crises, it is crucial to develop a system that better evaluates and monitors local responses, before, during and after crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot Bracke
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Primary and Interdisciplinary Care Antwerp (ELIZA), Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Jil Molenaar
- Primary and Interdisciplinary Care Antwerp (ELIZA), Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annelies Colliers
- Primary and Interdisciplinary Care Antwerp (ELIZA), Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bruno Marchal
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Daan Sanders
- Health Service, Department of Social Affairs, City of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Van Belle
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lore Van Praag
- Governance and Pluralism, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Josefien van Olmen
- Primary and Interdisciplinary Care Antwerp (ELIZA), Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Arija Prieto P, Antonini M, Ammi M, Genie M, Paolucci F. Political determinants of COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine rollouts: The case of regional elections in Italy and Spain. Health Policy 2024; 145:105082. [PMID: 38781708 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105082] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant public health crises in modern history, with considerable impacts on the policy frameworks of national governments. In response to the pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and mass vaccination campaigns have been employed to protect vulnerable groups. Through the lens of Political Budget Cycle (PBC) theory, this study explores the interplay between incumbent electoral concerns and political dynamics in influencing the implementation of NPIs and vaccination rollout within the administrative regions of Italy and Spain during the period spanning June 2020 to July 2021. The results reveal that incumbents up for the next scheduled election are 5.8 % more likely to increase the stringency of containment measures than those that face a term limit. The findings also demonstrate that the seats of the incumbent and coalition parties in parliament and the number of parties in the coalition have a negative effect on both the efficiency of the vaccination rollout and the stringency of NPIs. Additionally, the competitiveness of the election emerges as an important predictor of the strictness of NPIs. Therefore, our results suggest that incumbents may strategically manipulate COVID-19 policy measures to optimize electoral outcomes. The study underscores the substantive influence of political incentives, competitive electoral environments, and government coalitions on policy formulation during health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Arija Prieto
- Department of Sociology and Business Law, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Marcello Antonini
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, WC2A 2AE, UK.
| | - Mehdi Ammi
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University, Richcraft Hall, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Mesfin Genie
- Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2300, Australia; Health Economics Research Unit, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, 215 Morris Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Francesco Paolucci
- Department of Sociology and Business Law, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy; Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2300, Australia
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Nassar EL, Virgili-Gervais G, Carrier ME, Kwakkenbos L, Henry RS, Hu S, Provencher S, Golberg M, Bartlett SJ, Mouthon L, Patten SB, Varga J, Benedetti A, Thombs BD. Experiences of telehealth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and preferences for future care of people with systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional study. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2024:S2665-9913(24)00166-8. [PMID: 38944052 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(24)00166-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Elsa-Lynn Nassar
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Marie-Eve Carrier
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Linda Kwakkenbos
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands; IQ Health and Center for Mindfulness, Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Richard S Henry
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sophie Hu
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sabrina Provencher
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Meira Golberg
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Susan J Bartlett
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Luc Mouthon
- Service de Médecine Interne, Centre de Référence Maladies Autoimmunes et Autoinflammatoires Systémiques Rares d'Ile de France, de l'Est et de l'Ouest, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Scott B Patten
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - John Varga
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrea Benedetti
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada; Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brett D Thombs
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Weissflog M, Kim S, Rajack N, Kolla NJ. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of restraint and seclusion interventions in Ontario emergency departments: A population-based study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302164. [PMID: 38626126 PMCID: PMC11020601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
While COVID-19 impacted all aspects of health care and patient treatment, particularly for patients with mental health/substance use (MH/SU) concerns, research has suggested a concerning increase in the use of restraint and seclusion (R/S) interventions, although results vary depending on facility type and patient population. Thus, the present study sought to explore COVID-related changes in the use of R/S interventions among patients presenting to Ontario emergency departments (EDs) with MH/SU complaints. To determine whether temporal and clinical factors were associated with changes in R/S use during COVID, binary logistic regression models were computed using data from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database. We then compared both prevalence rates and probability of an R/S event occurring during an ED visit in Ontario before and after the onset of COVID. The number of ED visits during which an R/S event occurred for patients presenting with MH/SU concerns increased by 9.5%, while their odds of an R/S event occurring during an ED visit increased by 23% in Ontario after COVID onset. Similarly, R/S event probability increased for patients presenting with MH/SU concerns after COVID onset (0.7% - 21.3% increase), particularly during the first wave, with the greatest increases observed for concerns associated with increased restraint risk pre-COVID. R/S intervention use increased substantially for patients presenting to Ontario EDs with MH/SU concerns during the first wave of COVID when the strain on healthcare system and uncertainty about the virus was arguably greatest. Patients with concerns already associated with increased R/S risk also showed the largest increases in R/S probability, suggesting increased behavioural issues during treatment among this population after COVID onset. These results have the potential to inform existing policies to mitigate risks associated with R/S intervention use during future public health emergencies and in general practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Weissflog
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
| | - Soyeon Kim
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natalie Rajack
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nathan J. Kolla
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
- Forensic Psychiatry Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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5
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Sturmberg JP, Marcum JA. From cause and effect to causes and effects. J Eval Clin Pract 2024; 30:296-308. [PMID: 36779244 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
It is now-at least loosely-acknowledged that most health and clinical outcomes are influenced by different interacting causes. Surprisingly, medical research studies are nearly universally designed to study-usually in a binary way-the effect of a single cause. Recent experiences during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic brought to the forefront that most of our challenges in medicine and healthcare deal with systemic, that is, interdependent and interconnected problems. Understanding these problems defy simplistic dichotomous research methodologies. These insights demand a shift in our thinking from 'cause and effect' to 'causes and effects' since this transcends the classical way of Cartesian reductionist thinking. We require a shift to a 'causes and effects' frame so we can choose the research methodology that reflects the relationships between variables of interest-one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one or many-to-many. One-to-one (or cause and effect) relationships are amenable to the traditional randomized control trial design, while all others require systemic designs to understand 'causes and effects'. Researchers urgently need to re-evaluate their science models and embrace research designs that allow an exploration of the clinically obvious multiple 'causes and effects' on health and disease. Clinical examples highlight the application of various systemic research methodologies and demonstrate how 'causes and effects' explain the heterogeneity of clinical outcomes. This shift in scientific thinking will allow us to find the necessary personalized or precise clinical interventions that address the underlying reasons for the variability of clinical outcomes and will contribute to greater health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim P Sturmberg
- School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Holgate, New South Wales, Australia
- Foundation President, International Society for Systems and Complexity Sciences for Health, Waitsfield, Vermont, USA
| | - James A Marcum
- Department of Philosophy, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
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Talamonti D, Schneider J, Gibson B, Forshaw M. The impact of national and international financial crises on mental health and well-being: a systematic review. J Ment Health 2023:1-38. [PMID: 37934869 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2023.2278104] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that financial crises and poor mental health are reciprocally related, but no systematic review has been conducted to synthesise the existing literature on the impact of national and international financial crises on population-level mental health and well-being. AIMS The aim of this study was to systematically review the available literature on the global impact of financial crises on mental health and well-being outcomes. METHODS After registration on PROSPERO, a systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Wiley, and Web of Science for papers published until 21 November 2022. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement, 98 papers were identified as meeting eligibility criteria. Included studies were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and results were presented in a formal narrative synthesis. RESULTS Our findings show that financial crises are significantly associated with well-being and occurrence of psychological conditions. Several socio-demographic, cultural, and country-specific characteristics played a crucial role in the prevention of population mental health decline in periods of financial crises. CONCLUSIONS Based on the findings of this review, evidence-based recommendations were developed to guide the design of policy actions that protect population mental health during and after financial crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Talamonti
- AXDEV Group Inc, Québec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jekaterina Schneider
- Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Benjamin Gibson
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Mark Forshaw
- Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK
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7
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Cheng C, Jiang WM, Fan B, Cheng YC, Hsu YT, Wu HY, Chang HH, Tsou HH. Real-time forecasting of COVID-19 spread according to protective behavior and vaccination: autoregressive integrated moving average models. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1500. [PMID: 37553650 PMCID: PMC10408098 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16419-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mathematical and statistical models are used to predict trends in epidemic spread and determine the effectiveness of control measures. Automatic regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models are used for time-series forecasting, but only few models of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have incorporated protective behaviors or vaccination, known to be effective for pandemic control. METHODS To improve the accuracy of prediction, we applied newly developed ARIMA models with predictors (mask wearing, avoiding going out, and vaccination) to forecast weekly COVID-19 case growth rates in Canada, France, Italy, and Israel between January 2021 and March 2022. The open-source data was sourced from the YouGov survey and Our World in Data. Prediction performance was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE) and the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc). RESULTS A model with mask wearing and vaccination variables performed best for the pandemic period in which the Alpha and Delta viral variants were predominant (before November 2021). A model using only past case growth rates as autoregressive predictors performed best for the Omicron period (after December 2021). The models suggested that protective behaviors and vaccination are associated with the reduction of COVID-19 case growth rates, with booster vaccine coverage playing a particularly vital role during the Omicron period. For example, each unit increase in mask wearing and avoiding going out significantly reduced the case growth rate during the Alpha/Delta period in Canada (-0.81 and -0.54, respectively; both p < 0.05). In the Omicron period, each unit increase in the number of booster doses resulted in a significant reduction of the case growth rate in Canada (-0.03), Israel (-0.12), Italy (-0.02), and France (-0.03); all p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS The key findings of this study are incorporating behavior and vaccination as predictors led to accurate predictions and highlighted their significant role in controlling the pandemic. These models are easily interpretable and can be embedded in a "real-time" schedule with weekly data updates. They can support timely decision making about policies to control dynamically changing epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh Cheng
- Department of Life Science & Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ming Jiang
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County, 350, Taiwan
| | - Byron Fan
- Brown University, RI, Providence, USA
| | - Yu-Chieh Cheng
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County, 350, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ting Hsu
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County, 350, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Yu Wu
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County, 350, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Han Chang
- Department of Life Science & Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Hui Tsou
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County, 350, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Desjardins C, Haraysm JL, Abdoulnour J, Denis-LeBlanc M, Hubert D, Fotsing S, Lamothe DB, Boet S. Portrait of French-speaking minorities with respect to vaccination against COVID-19. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2023; 49:320-330. [PMID: 38455881 PMCID: PMC10917132 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i78a04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination campaign highlighted the requirement to better understand the needs of different populations. French-speaking minorities (FSMs) have greater difficulty accessing quality care in French, and this problem was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective The aim of this survey was to develop a descriptive portrait of the health needs of FSMs in relation to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign by describing their vaccination status, attitudes and beliefs compared with English-speaking majorities. Methods A survey was conducted among eligible participants using convenience sampling. Data measurement includes a descriptive statistical comparison using analysis of the variance, univariate logistic regressions and a two-proportions z-test. Results Of the 1,505 respondents (554 FSMs vs. 951 English speakers), the FSMs have an average age of 51.4 years and 89.2% are Canadian citizens. Vaccination of children was preponderant among English speakers (74.2% vs. 86.3%), including against COVID-19 (58.6% vs. 73.9%). A higher proportion of FSMs had gotten vaccinated in order to obtain a vaccine passport (39% vs. 29.3%). Among the unvaccinated, FSMs were more likely to question the efficacy of vaccines (60% vs. 36.4%). Canadian citizen FSMs with higher education could be divided in relation to the vaccine regimen. Conclusion This survey revealed differences between FSMs and the English-speaking majority in their perceptions of vaccine efficacy, particularly vaccination of children, and a polarization of attitudes/beliefs among FSMs according to certain sociodemographic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Desjardins
- Francophone Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
| | | | | | - Manon Denis-LeBlanc
- Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
| | - Daniel Hubert
- Francophone Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
| | - Salomon Fotsing
- Francophone Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
- Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
| | | | - Sylvain Boet
- Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
- Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
- Department of Innovation in Medical Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON
- Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, ON
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Santolini R. The COVID-19 green certificate's effect on vaccine uptake in French and Italian regions. JOURNAL OF POLICY MODELING 2023; 45:S0161-8938(23)00053-4. [PMID: 38620110 PMCID: PMC10290179 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 green certificates were introduced in many countries in 2021 to encourage vaccine uptake against the COVID-19 virus in order to reduce the spread of severe infection among the population, ensure the safety of cross-border movements, and facilitate the resumption of social life and economic activities. This study uses a single-group interrupted time series approach to examine the effect of the green certificate announcement on the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in 20 Italian and 18 French regions during the summer of 2021. The estimation results show that the green certificate announcement mitigated regional disparities in vaccine uptake. It persuaded undecided people to have their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in regions lagging in the mass vaccination campaign. It was less effective in those regions where there was already a high level of vaccine protection. The announcement also proved to be an effective political strategy with which to increase the first-dose rates immediately, but not in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Santolini
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences Università Politecnica delle Marche Piazzale Martelli 8, 60121 Ancona Italy
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Honda A, de Araujo Oliveira SR, Ridde V, Zinszer K, Gautier L. Attributes and Organizational Factors that Enabled Innovation in Health Care Service Delivery during the COVID-19 Pandemic - Case Studies from Brazil, Canada and Japan. Health Syst Reform 2023; 9:2176022. [PMID: 37023218 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2023.2176022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Innovation by health service organizations can enable adaptation to and transformation of challenges caused by health shocks. Drawing on results from case studies in Brazil, Canada, and Japan, this study looked at innovations the study hospitals introduced in response to challenges caused by COVID-19 to identify: 1) attributes of the innovations that make them conducive to adoption; and 2) organizational factors that facilitate the creation and implementation of innovative health care approaches during health system shocks. Qualitative information was gathered using key informant interviews, participatory observations at the study hospitals and a review of relevant documentation. A thematic approach was used for analysis, and a cross-country comparison framework was prepared to synthesize findings from the case studies in the three countries. In response to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the study hospitals undertook innovative changes in services, processes, organizational structures, and operational policy. The driving force behind the innovations was the need and urgency generated by the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. With COVID-19, if an innovation met the perceived needs of hospitals and provided an operational advantage, some level of complexity in the implementation appeared to be acceptable. The study findings suggest that for hospitals to create and implement innovations in response to health shocks, they need to: have adaptive and flexible organizational structures; build and maintain functioning communication systems; have committed leadership; ensure all staff share an understanding of hospital organizational and professional missions; and establish social networks that facilitate the creation and implementation of new ideas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Honda
- Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Health Policy and Economics, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Valéry Ridde
- Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, Paris, France
| | - Kate Zinszer
- École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lara Gautier
- École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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11
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Gauthier-Beaupré A, Battistini BJ, Kuziemsky C, Jutai JW. Policymaker perspectives on self-management of disease and disabilities using information and communication technologies. Health Res Policy Syst 2023; 21:52. [PMID: 37316838 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-023-01004-7] [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: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Policies that support health self-management are malleable and highly dependent on various factors that influence governments. Within a world that is shifting toward digitalization due to pressures such as the COVID-19 pandemic and labor shortages, policymaking on older adults' self-management of chronic diseases and disability using information and communication technologies (ICTs) needs to be better understood. Using the province of Ontario, in Canada, as a case study, the research question was What is the environment that policymakers must navigate through in development and implementation of policies related to older adults' self-management of disease and disability using information and communication technologies (ICTs)? METHODS This study used a qualitative approach where public servants from 4 ministries within the government of Ontario were invited to participate in a 1-h, one-on-one, semi-structured interview. The audio-recorded interviews were based on an adapted model of the policy triangle, where the researcher asked questions about the influences from the different sources identified in the model. The interviews were later transcribed and analyzed using a deductive-inductive coding approach. RESULTS Ten participants across 4 different Ministries participated in the interviews. Participants shared insights on various aspects of context, process and actors that help shape the current content of policies. The analysis revealed that policies, in the form of programs, services, legislation and regulations, are the result of collaborations and dialogue between different actors and get developed and implemented via a set of complex government processes. In addition, policy actions come from a plethora of sectors which all get influenced by several predictable and unpredictable external pressures. CONCLUSIONS The environment for policymaking in the government of Ontario regarding older adults' self-management of disease and disability using ICTs is one that is mostly reactive to external pressures, while organized within a set of complex processes and multi-sectoral collaborations. The present research helped us to understand the complexity of policymaking on the topic and highlights the need for increased foresight and proactive policymaking, regardless of which governments are in-place.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno J Battistini
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Craig Kuziemsky
- School of Business, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jeffrey W Jutai
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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12
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Kim S, Belfry KD, Crawford J, MacDougall A, Kolla NJ. COVID-19-related anxiety and the role of social media among Canadian youth. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1029082. [PMID: 37342172 PMCID: PMC10277464 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1029082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Current literature indicates that safety measures, including lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, severely disrupted our lifestyle, marked by increased screen time. The increased screen time is mostly associated with exacerbated physical and mental wellbeing. However, the studies that examine the relationship between specific types of screen time and COVID-19-related anxiety among youth are limited. Methods We examined the usage of passive watching, social media, video games, and educational screen time and COVID-19-related anxiety at the 5-time points (Early-Spring 2021, Late-Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Winter 2022, and Spring 2022) among youth in Southern Ontario, Canada (N = 117, mean age = 16.82, male = 22%, non-White = 21%) and investigated the role of 4 types of screen time in COVID-19 related anxiety. COVID-related anxiety was measured using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). Descriptive statistics examined the binary relationships between demographic factors, screen time, and COVID-related anxiety. Also, partially adjusted and fully adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between the types of screen time and COVID-19-related anxiety. Results During the late Spring of 2021, when the provincial safety restrictions were most stringent, screen time was the highest among the 5 data collection time points. Further, adolescents experienced the highest COVID-19-related anxiety during this period. On the other hand, young adults experienced the highest COVID-19-related anxiety during Spring 2022. In a partially adjusted model (accounting for other types of screen time), engaging in 1-5 h per day on social media increased the likelihood of experiencing COVID-19-related anxiety compared to those who spend less than 1 h per day (OR = 3.50, 95%CI = 1.14-10.72, p < 0.05). Other types of screen time was not significantly associated with COVID-19-related anxiety. In a fully adjusted model (accounting for age, sex and ethnicity besides four types on screen time), 1-5 h per day of social media remained significantly associated with COVID-19-related anxiety (OR = 4.08, 95%CI = 1.22-13.62, p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that COVID-19-related anxiety is associated with youth engagement in social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians, parents, and educators should work collaboratively to provide developmentally appropriate approaches to reduce the negative social media impact on COVID-19-related anxiety and promote/foster resiliency in our community during the recovery period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Kim
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
- Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Kimberly D. Belfry
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer Crawford
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | - Arlene MacDougall
- Psychiatry and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Nathan J. Kolla
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Leigh JP, Moss SJ, Sriskandarajah C, McArthur E, Ahmed SB, Birnie K, Halperin D, Halperin S, Harley M, Hu J, Ng Kamstra J, Leppan L, Nickel A, Racine N, Russell K, Smith S, Solis M, Stelfox M, Tutelman PR, Stelfox HT, Fiest KM. A muti-informant national survey on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health symptoms of parent-child dyads in Canada. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7972. [PMID: 37198202 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34544-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of children, youth, and their families which must be addressed and prevented in future public health crises. Our objective was to measure how self-reported mental health symptoms of children/youth and their parents evolved during COVID-19 and to identify associated factors for children/youth and their parents including sources accessed for information on mental health. We conducted a nationally representative, multi-informant cross-sectional survey administered online to collect data from April to May 2022 across 10 Canadian provinces among dyads of children (11-14 years) or youth (15-18 years) and a parent (> 18 years). Self-report questions on mental health were based on The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health and the World Health Organization of the United Nations H6+ Technical Working Group on Adolescent Health and Well-Being consensus framework and the Coronavirus Health and Impact Survey. McNemar's test and the test of homogeneity of stratum effects were used to assess differences between children-parent and youth-parent dyads, and interaction by stratification factors, respectively. Among 933 dyads (N = 1866), 349 (37.4%) parents were aged 35-44 years and 485 (52.0%) parents were women; 227 (47.0%) children and 204 (45.3%) youth were girls; 174 (18.6%) dyads had resided in Canada < 10 years. Anxiety and irritability were reported most frequently among child (44, 9.1%; 37, 7.7%) and parent (82, 17.0%; 67, 13.9%) dyads, as well as among youth (44, 9.8%; 35, 7.8%) and parent (68, 15.1%; 49, 10.9%) dyads; children and youth were significantly less likely to report worsened anxiety (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively) or inattention (p < 0.001, p = 0.028, respectively) compared to parents. Dyads who reported financial or housing instability or identified as living with a disability more frequently reported worsened mental health. Children (96, 57.1%), youth (113, 62.5%), and their parents (253, 62.5%; 239, 62.6%, respectively) most frequently accessed the internet for mental health information. This cross-national survey contextualizes pandemic-related changes to self-reported mental health symptoms of children, youth, and families.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sofia B Ahmed
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kathryn Birnie
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Donna Halperin
- Rankin School of Nursing, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Scott Halperin
- Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Jia Hu
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Josh Ng Kamstra
- Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, Canada
| | - Laura Leppan
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Angie Nickel
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Nicole Racine
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stacie Smith
- Young Canadian Roundtable On Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - May Solis
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Maia Stelfox
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Henry T Stelfox
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Calgary, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Kirsten M Fiest
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Calgary, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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14
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Angeli-Silva L, Santos JVPD, Esperidião MA. Health system, surveillance and the COVID-19 pandemic response in France. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2023; 28:1313-1324. [PMID: 37194867 DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232023285.11202022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
France was the first European country to confirm cases of COVID-19, being one of the most affected by the pandemic in the first wave. This case study analyzed the measures adopted by the country in the fight against COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, correlating it to the characteristics of its health and surveillance system. As a welfare state, it relied on compensatory policies and protection of the economy, as well as increased investments in health. There were weaknesses in the preparation and delay in the implementation of the coping plan. The response was coordinated by the national executive power, adopting strict lockdowns in the first two waves, mitigating restrictive measures in the other waves, after the increase in vaccination coverage and in the face of population resistance. The country faced problems with testing, case and contact surveillance and patient care, especially in the first wave. It was necessary to modify the health insurance rules to expand coverage, access and better articulation of surveillance actions. It indicates lessons learned about the limits of its social security system, but also the potential of a government with a strong response capacity in the financing of public policies and regulation of other sectors to face the crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Angeli-Silva
- Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal da Bahia. R. Basílio da Gama 241, Canela. 40231-300 Salvador BA Brasil.
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15
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Viseur R, Charleux A, Fally B. How makers responded to the Personal Protective Equipment shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis focused on the Hauts-de-France region. EUROPEAN MANAGEMENT JOURNAL 2023:S0263-2373(23)00056-7. [PMID: 37362856 PMCID: PMC10147541 DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic saw makers mobilize around the world to address a shortage of medical equipment. Our research focuses on a group of makers organized in the Hauts-de-France region. Combining interviews with tool-based and hybrid method (quantitative/qualitative), we analyzed the collaborative messaging room used to coordinate the production of face shields. That field work enabled us to update the profile of the participants, the intensity of their contribution, the nature of the innovation implemented, the coordination mechanisms, and the associated difficulties. We identified different makers' profiles given their backgrounds, expertise, and network. We evaluated the type of collaboration they developed with the local public and private actors through an online platform, and how technology facilitated the interactions and circulation of information despite the confinement. We evaluated the level of performance from the point of view of an organization, knowledge transfer, and invention. It reveals how these practices can successfully evolve from resilience to innovation. We discuss the potential of exploiting the makers' open source practices in collaborative and innovative territory dynamics with an interest in sharing the knowledge commons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Viseur
- University of Mons, Place Warocqué 17, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Amel Charleux
- University of Montpellier, Rue Vendémiaire, 34000, Montpellier, France
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16
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Kim S, Rajack N, Mondoux SE, Tardelli VS, Kolla NJ, Le Foll B. The COVID-19 impact and characterization on substance use-related emergency department visits for adolescents and young adults in Canada: Practical implications. J Eval Clin Pract 2023; 29:447-458. [PMID: 36752167 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related stressors precipitated the mental health crisis and increased substance use in Canada and worldwide. As the pandemic continues to evolve, monitoring and updating substance use-related ED visit trends is essential to ensure the stability and quality of ED services under the prolonged pandemic timeline. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study examined the trends and characterization of substance use-related ED visits during the pandemic among adolescents and young adults (aged 13-25 years) in Ontario, Canada. METHODS Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted using population-based, repeated cross-sectional data. The volume, patient characteristics (age and sex) and hospital/ED visit features (triage to end time, timing of the visit, triage level and referral source) were compared before (2019) and during COVID-19 (2020 and 2021) by each substance type (alcohol, opioid, cannabis, sedatives, cocaine, stimulants and multiple psychoactive substances). RESULTS Substance use-related ED visits decreased by 1.5 times during the pandemic compared to the prepandemic level. However, opioid-related ED visits continued to show an increasing trend and did not recover to the prepandemic level in 2021. Moreover, a significant increase in emergent/life-threatening triage levels (Canadian Triage and Acuity Scales 1 and 2) in substance-related ED visits is alarming (2019 = 36.8%, 2020 = 38.7% and 2021 = 38.4%). We also found a general decrease in weekend visits, overnight visits and visits on statutory holidays, and substance use-related ED patients tended to stay longer (over 6 h) in the ED during the pandemic. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate unmet substance use treatment needs due to the limited accessibility and heightened threshold for ED visits during the pandemic. Providing access to substance treatment/programs outside ED is critical to reducing substance use-related complications presenting in the ED. Also, policies addressing the pandemic-related complexities in the ED and Health Human Resource challenges are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Kim
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natalie Rajack
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shawn E Mondoux
- Emergency Department, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vitor S Tardelli
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nathan J Kolla
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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17
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Zhao L, Jin Y, Zhou L, Yang P, Qian Y, Huang X, Min M. Evaluation of health system resilience in 60 countries based on their responses to COVID-19. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1081068. [PMID: 36699903 PMCID: PMC9870292 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1081068] [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: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic swept the world, and many national health systems faced serious challenges. To improve future public health responses, it's necessary to evaluate the performance of each country's health system. Methods We developed a resilience evaluation system for national health systems based on their responses to COVID-19 using four resilience dimensions: government governance and prevention, health financing, health service provision, and health workers. We determined the weight of each index by combining the three-scale and entropy-weight methods. Then, based on data from 2020, we used the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to rank the health system resilience of 60 countries, and then used hierarchical clustering to classify countries into groups based on their resilience level. Finally, we analyzed the causes of differences among countries in their resilience based on the four resilience dimensions. Results Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Australia, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, Finland, the United States, and the United Kingdom had the highest health system resilience in 2020. Eritrea, Nigeria, Libya, Tanzania, Burundi, Mozambique, Republic of the Niger, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Guinea had the lowest resilience. Discussion Government governance and prevention of COVID-19 will greatly affect a country's success in fighting future epidemics, which will depend on a government's emergency preparedness, stringency (a measure of the number and rigor of the measures taken), and testing capability. Given the lack of vaccines or specific drug treatments during the early stages of the 2020 epidemic, social distancing and wearing masks were the main defenses against COVID-19. Cuts in health financing had direct and difficult to reverse effects on health systems. In terms of health service provision, the number of hospitals and intensive care unit beds played a key role in COVID-19 clinical care. Resilient health systems were able to cope more effectively with the impact of COVID-19, provide stronger protection for citizens, and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Our evaluation based on data from 60 countries around the world showed that increasing health system resilience will improve responses to future public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laijun Zhao
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajun Jin
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Yajun Jin ✉
| | - Lixin Zhou
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Pingle Yang
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Qian
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Huang
- Emergency Management Office, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengmeng Min
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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18
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Saxena S, Liu L, Pollock N, McFaull SR. Self-harm emergency department visits in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a sentinel surveillance system. Inj Epidemiol 2023; 10:1. [PMID: 36604736 PMCID: PMC9815059 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-022-00411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-harm is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, though the prevalence tends to be highest among adolescents. As an indicator in suicide surveillance, the incidence of self-harm is useful because it is sensitive to social, environmental, and economic conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of self-harm has varied across contexts. This study aims to investigate the changes in self-harm emergency department visits in 2020 compared to a pre-pandemic period in 2018-2019. METHODS Self-harm emergency department visits were extracted from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program database from 2018 to 2020. We compared the data in 2020 with the pre-pandemic baseline in 2018-2019. We examined the changes in volume, the percentages of self-harm cases among all intentional injuries by sex, age group, and the proportions of self-harm cases by method of injury. We also quantified the time trends of the percentages of self-harm cases among all intentional injuries using Joinpoint regression. RESULTS The overall volume of emergency visits related to self-harm was higher in 2020 during weeks 24-51 compared to the average volumes for the same weeks of 2018-2019. Percentage of self-harm among all intentional injury emergency department visits was significantly higher by 6.1% among females (p < 0.05) and by 5.3% among males in 2020 than in 2018-2019 (p < 0.05). The 11-to-18-year age group showed an increase in the percentage of self-harm among all intentional injury emergency department visits by 7.4% in 2020 when compared to 2018-2019. Time trend analyses showed that the percentages of self-harm among all intentional injury emergency department visits were higher during weeks 4-52 in 2020 than in 2018-2019, for both males and females. CONCLUSIONS The percentage of emergency department visits related to self-harm among all intentional injury visits were higher during 2020 than in 2018-2019. These results underscore the importance of continued surveillance of self-harm in Canada to better understand the sociodemographic factors affecting self-harm and to inform the prevention strategies and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Saxena
- grid.415368.d0000 0001 0805 4386Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Li Liu
- grid.415368.d0000 0001 0805 4386Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Nathaniel Pollock
- grid.415368.d0000 0001 0805 4386Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada ,grid.25055.370000 0000 9130 6822School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies, Labrador Campus, Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL Canada
| | - Steven R. McFaull
- grid.415368.d0000 0001 0805 4386Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
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Verdonck K, Morreel S, Vanhamel J, Vuylsteke B, Nöstlinger C, Laga M, van Olmen J. Local initiative supports case isolation and contact tracing during a SARS-CoV-2 surge in summer 2020: a community case study in Antwerp, Belgium. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1000617. [PMID: 37213599 PMCID: PMC10196007 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1000617] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In Antwerp, Belgium's second largest city, a COVID-19 surge in July 2020 predominantly affected neighborhoods with high ethnic diversity. Local volunteers reacted and set up an initiative to support contact tracing and self-isolation. We describe the origin, implementation, and transfer of this local initiative, based on semi-structured interviews of five key informants and document review. The initiative started in July 2020, when family physicians signaled a surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections among people of Moroccan descent. Family physicians feared that the mainstream contact tracing organized by the Flemish government through centralized call centers would not be efficient in halting this outbreak. They anticipated language barriers, mistrust, inability to investigate case clusters, and practical problems with self-isolation. It took 11 days to start up the initiative, with logistical support from the province and city of Antwerp. Family physicians referred SARS-CoV-2-infected index cases with complex needs (including language and social situation) to the initiative. Volunteer COVID coaches contacted cases, got a contextualized understanding of their living conditions, assisted with backward and forward contact tracing, offered support during self-isolation, and checked if infected contacts also needed support. Interviewed coaches were positive about the quality of the interaction: they described extensive open conversations with cases. The coaches reported back to referring family physicians and coordinators of the local initiative, who took additional action if necessary. Although interactions with affected communities were perceived as good, respondents considered that the number of referrals by family physicians was too low to have a meaningful impact on the outbreak. In September 2020, the Flemish government assigned the tasks of local contact tracing and case support to the local health system level (primary care zones). While doing so, they adopted elements of this local initiative, such as COVID coaches, tracing system, and extended questionnaires to talk with cases and contacts. This community case study illustrates how urgency can motivate people to action yet support from people with access to resources and coordination capacity is vital for effective organization and transition to long-term sustainability. From their conception, health policies should consider adaptability of new interventions to local contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristien Verdonck
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stefan Morreel
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Stefan Morreel
| | - Jef Vanhamel
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bea Vuylsteke
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Marie Laga
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Josefien van Olmen
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Clement J, Esposito G, Crutzen N. Municipal Pathways in Response to COVID-19: A Strategic Management Perspective on Local Public Administration Resilience. ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY 2023; 55:3-29. [PMID: 36606211 PMCID: PMC9716190 DOI: 10.1177/00953997221100382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to understand the different resilience pathways local governments may take during moments of crisis, specifically focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Through survey responses from local administrations in Wallonia, Belgium, we consider how varied contexts led to different strategic resilience pathways. These pathways range from static (i.e., no strategy) to innovative change. Our findings highlight that digital technology solutions may play a role in supporting resilience across the different pathways. Therefore, we adapt strategic public management literature to suggest propositions for future research to test the specific role that digital technologies play in supporting resilience within local administrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Clement
- HEC Liège Management School at the University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Esposito
- HEC Liège Management School at the University of Liège, Belgium
- University of Antwerp, Belgium
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21
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Pereira MA, Dinis DC, Ferreira DC, Figueira JR, Marques RC. A network Data Envelopment Analysis to estimate nations' efficiency in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS 2022. [PMID: 35958804 DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2021.115169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has been deeply impacting health systems worldwide. In this context, it is pivotal to measure the efficiency of different nations' response to the pandemic, whose insights can be used by governments and health authorities worldwide to improve their national COVID-19 strategies. Hence, we propose a network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiencies of fifty-five countries in the current crisis, including the thirty-seven Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, six OECD prospective members, four OECD key partners, and eight other countries. The network DEA model is designed as a general series structure with five single-division stages - population, contagion, triage, hospitalisation, and intensive care unit admission -, and considers an output maximisation orientation, denoting a social perspective, and an input minimisation orientation, denoting a financial perspective. It includes inputs related to health costs, desirable and undesirable intermediate products related to the use of personal protective equipment and infected population, respectively, and desirable and undesirable outputs regarding COVID-19 recoveries and deaths, respectively. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study proposing a cross-country efficiency measurement using a network DEA within the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The study concludes that Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand are the countries exhibiting higher mean system efficiencies. Their national COVID-19 strategies should be studied, adapted, and used by countries exhibiting worse performances. In addition, the observation of countries with large populations presenting worse mean efficiency scores is statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Alves Pereira
- INESC TEC, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Duarte Caldeira Dinis
- CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Diogo Cunha Ferreira
- CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Rui Figueira
- CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui Cunha Marques
- CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
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Pereira MA, Dinis DC, Ferreira DC, Figueira JR, Marques RC. A network Data Envelopment Analysis to estimate nations' efficiency in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS 2022; 210:118362. [PMID: 35958804 PMCID: PMC9355747 DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2022.118362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has been deeply impacting health systems worldwide. In this context, it is pivotal to measure the efficiency of different nations' response to the pandemic, whose insights can be used by governments and health authorities worldwide to improve their national COVID-19 strategies. Hence, we propose a network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiencies of fifty-five countries in the current crisis, including the thirty-seven Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, six OECD prospective members, four OECD key partners, and eight other countries. The network DEA model is designed as a general series structure with five single-division stages - population, contagion, triage, hospitalisation, and intensive care unit admission -, and considers an output maximisation orientation, denoting a social perspective, and an input minimisation orientation, denoting a financial perspective. It includes inputs related to health costs, desirable and undesirable intermediate products related to the use of personal protective equipment and infected population, respectively, and desirable and undesirable outputs regarding COVID-19 recoveries and deaths, respectively. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study proposing a cross-country efficiency measurement using a network DEA within the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The study concludes that Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand are the countries exhibiting higher mean system efficiencies. Their national COVID-19 strategies should be studied, adapted, and used by countries exhibiting worse performances. In addition, the observation of countries with large populations presenting worse mean efficiency scores is statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Alves Pereira
- INESC TEC, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Duarte Caldeira Dinis
- CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Diogo Cunha Ferreira
- CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Rui Figueira
- CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui Cunha Marques
- CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
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Jalloh MF, Zeebari Z, Nur SA, Prybylski D, Nur AA, Hakim AJ, Winters M, Steinhardt LC, Gatei W, Omer SB, Brewer NT, Nordenstedt H. Drivers of COVID-19 policy stringency in 175 countries and territories: COVID-19 cases and deaths, gross domestic products per capita, and health expenditures. J Glob Health 2022; 12:05049. [PMID: 36527269 PMCID: PMC9758449 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.05049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background New data on COVID-19 may influence the stringency of containment policies, but these potential effect are not understood. We aimed to understand the associations of new COVID-19 cases and deaths with policy stringency globally and regionally. Methods We modelled the marginal effects of new COVID-19 cases and deaths on policy stringency (scored 0-100) in 175 countries and territories, adjusting for gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and health expenditure (% of GDP), and public expenditure on health. The time periods examined were March to August 2020, September 2020 to February 2021, and March to August 2021. Results Policy response to new cases and deaths was faster and more stringent early in the COVID-19 pandemic (March to August 2020) compared to subsequent periods. New deaths were more strongly associated with stringent policies than new cases. In an average week, one new death per 100 000 people was associated with a stringency increase of 2.1 units in the March to August 2020 period, 1.3 units in the September 2020 to February 2021 period, and 0.7 units in the March to August 2021 period. New deaths in Africa and the Western Pacific were associated with more stringency than in other regions. Higher health expenditure as a percentage of GDP was associated with less stringent policies. Similarly, higher public expenditure on health by governments was mostly associated with less stringency across all three periods. GDP per capita did not have consistent patterns of associations with stringency. Conclusions The stringency of COVID-19 policies was more strongly associated with new deaths than new cases. Our findings demonstrate the need for enhanced mortality surveillance to ensure policy alignment during health emergencies. Countries that invest less in health or have a lower public expenditure on health may be inclined to enact more stringent policies. This new empirical understanding of COVID-19 policy drivers can help public health officials anticipate and shape policy responses in future health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed F Jalloh
- Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zangin Zeebari
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Sophia A Nur
- Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dimitri Prybylski
- Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Aasli A Nur
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Avi J Hakim
- Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maike Winters
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Laura C Steinhardt
- Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Wangeci Gatei
- Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Saad B Omer
- Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Noel T Brewer
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Helena Nordenstedt
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Khattar J, Griffith LE, Jones A, De Rubeis V, de Groh M, Jiang Y, Basta NE, Kirkland S, Wolfson C, Raina P, Anderson LN. Symptoms of depression and anxiety, and unmet healthcare needs in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2242. [PMID: 36456993 PMCID: PMC9713148 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14633-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to healthcare services in Canada. Research prior to the pandemic has found that depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with increased unmet healthcare needs. The primary objective of this study was to examine if mental health was associated with perceived access to healthcare during the pandemic METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 23,972 participants (aged 50-96) in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging COVID-19 Exit Survey (Sept-Dec 2020). We used logistic regression to estimate how the presence of depression and anxiety symptoms, defined using scores of ≥10 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and ≥10 on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, were associated with the odds of reporting: 1) challenges accessing healthcare, 2) not going to a hospital or seeing a doctor when needed, 3) experiencing barriers to COVID-19 testing. Models were adjusted for sex, age, region, urban/rural residence, racial background, immigrant status, income, marital status, work status, chronic conditions, and pre-pandemic unmet needs. RESULTS The presence of depressive (aOR=1.96; 95% CI=1.82, 2.11) and anxiety symptoms (aOR=2.33; 95% CI=2.04, 2.66) compared to the absence of these symptoms were independently associated with higher odds of challenges accessing healthcare. A statistically significant interaction with sex suggested stronger associations in females with anxiety. Symptoms of depression (aOR=2.88; 95% CI=2.58, 3.21) and anxiety (aOR=3.05; 95% CI=2.58, 3.60) were also associated with increased odds of not going to a hospital or seeing a doctor when needed. Lastly, depressive (aOR=1.99; 95% CI=1.71, 2.31) and anxiety symptoms (aOR=2.01; 95% CI=1.58, 2.56) were associated with higher odds of reporting barriers to COVID-19 testing. There was no significantly significant interaction with sex for the latter two outcomes. CONCLUSION The presence of depression and anxiety symptoms were strongly associated with perceived unmet healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions to improve healthcare access for adults with depression and anxiety during the pandemic may be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayati Khattar
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8 Canada
| | - Lauren E. Griffith
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8 Canada
| | - Aaron Jones
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8 Canada
| | - Vanessa De Rubeis
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8 Canada
| | - Margaret de Groh
- grid.415368.d0000 0001 0805 4386Applied Research Division, Center for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON K0A 0K9 Canada
| | - Ying Jiang
- grid.415368.d0000 0001 0805 4386Applied Research Division, Center for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON K0A 0K9 Canada
| | - Nicole E. Basta
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Susan Kirkland
- grid.55602.340000 0004 1936 8200Department of Community Health & Epidemiology and Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Christina Wolfson
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health & Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal Canada & Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Parminder Raina
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8 Canada
| | - Laura N. Anderson
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8 Canada
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Muttamba W, O'Hare BAM, Saxena V, Bbuye M, Tyagi P, Ramsay A, Kirenga B, Sabiiti W. A systematic review of strategies adopted to scale up COVID-19 testing in low-, middle- and high-income countries. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060838. [PMID: 36396316 PMCID: PMC9676418 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-060838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We undertook a systematic review of strategies adopted to scale up COVID-19 testing in countries across income levels to identify successful approaches and facilitate learning. METHODS Scholarly articles in English from PubMed, Google scholar and Google search engine describing strategies used to increase COVID-19 testing in countries were reviewed. Deductive analysis to allocate relevant text from the reviewed publications/reports to the a priori themes was done. MAIN RESULTS The review covered 32 countries, including 11 high-income, 2 upper-middle-income, 13 lower-middle-income and 6 low-income countries. Most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) increased the number of laboratories available for testing and deployed sample collection and shipment to the available laboratories. The high-income countries (HICs) that is, South Korea, Germany, Singapore and USA developed molecular diagnostics with accompanying regulatory and legislative framework adjustments to ensure the rapid development and use of the tests. HICs like South Korea leveraged existing manufacturing systems to develop tests, while the LMICs leveraged existing national disease control programmes (HIV, tuberculosis, malaria) to increase testing. Continent-wide, African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention-led collaborations increased testing across most African countries through building capacity by providing testing kits and training. CONCLUSION Strategies taken appear to reflect the existing systems or economies of scale that a particular country could leverage. LMICs, for example, drew on the infectious disease control programmes already in place to harness expertise and laboratory capacity for COVID-19 testing. There however might have been strategies adopted by other countries but were never published and thus did not appear anywhere in the searched databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winters Muttamba
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Vibhor Saxena
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Mudarshiru Bbuye
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Parul Tyagi
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Andrew Ramsay
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Bruce Kirenga
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Wilber Sabiiti
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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Robert G, Bernhard JC, Capon G, Alezra E, Estrade V, Blanc P, Bladou F, Bensadoun H. Consequences of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on urological surgery in France: a nationwide analysis of the healthcare system database. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e066220. [PMID: 36375970 PMCID: PMC9664026 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak overwhelmed the healthcare systems worldwide. Saturation of hospitals and the risk of contagion led to a reduction in the care of other diseases. OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on urological surgery in France during the year 2020. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS An observational descriptive study was conducted on anonymised data collected from the national healthcare database established each year as part of the Program for the Medicalization of Information Systems in Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Odontology. INTERVENTION None. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES We gathered the number of urology surgical procedures carried out between 2010 and 2019, and we observed the difference between the forecast and actual number of urological surgeries performed in 2020. RESULTS Urological surgeries decreased by 11.4%, non-oncological surgeries being more affected (-13.1%) than oncological ones (-4.1%). Among the most relevant surgeries, female urinary incontinence (-44.7%) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (-20.8%) were the most impacted ones, followed by kidney cancer (-9%), urolithiasis (-8.7%), radical cystectomy for bladder cancer (-6.1%), prostate cancer (-3.6%) and transurethral resection of bladder tumour (-2%). Public hospitals had a more reduced activity (-17.7%) than private ones (-9.1%). Finally, the distribution of the reduction in urological activities by region did not correspond to the regional burden of SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSIONS Urological care was severely affected during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Even if oncological surgeries were prioritised, the longer it takes to receive appropriate care, the greater the risk on survival impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION The data collection and analysis was authorised by the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL) under the number1 861 282v2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregoire Robert
- Department of Urology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Université de Bordeaux, Talence, France
| | | | - Grégoire Capon
- Department of Urology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Eric Alezra
- Department of Urology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Peggy Blanc
- Department of Urology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Franck Bladou
- Department of Urology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Université de Bordeaux, Talence, France
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Mohamadian M, Nasiri T, Bahadori M, Jalilian H. Stakeholders analysis of COVID-19 management and control: a case of Iran. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1909. [PMID: 36229818 PMCID: PMC9559115 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14219-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a multi-faceted phenomenon with many political, economic and social consequences. Success in managing and controlling this pandemic depends on the coordinated efforts of many organizations and institutions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and analyze the actors and stakeholders related to managing and controlling this pandemic in Iran. Methods This mix-method stakeholder analysis was conducted in 2021 nationwide as retrospectively. The purposive sampling method was applied when inviting eligible participants to participate in the study. Our study was conducted in two phases. In the qualitative phase, data were collected using a semi-structured interview. An interview guide was developed based on the WHO stakeholder analysis framework. In the quantitative phase, we used a questionnaire developed based on the study framework. Each question was scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with a score greater than 4 was considered as high, 3–4 was considered as moderate, and 1–3 was considered as low. Data were analyzed using framework analysis, WHO stakeholders’ analysis framework and MENDELOW matrix. MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software Version 11 and Policy Maker software (Version. 4) were used for data analysis. Results A total of 48 stakeholders were identified. Ministry of Health (MoH), National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control (NHCC) had the highest participation level, high supportive position, and knowledge of the subject. The Parliament of Iran (PoI), Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) had the highest power/influence during the Covid-19 epidemic. Only two stakeholders (6.06%) had high participation, and 18.18% had moderate participation. All stakeholders except for the NHCC and the MoH lacked appropriate knowledge of the subject. Furthermore, only three stakeholders (9.09%) had high power/influence. Conclusion Given the multidimensional nature of Covid-19, most institutions and organizations were involved in managing this pandemic. Stakeholders with high power/authority and resources had a low/moderate participation level and a moderate supportive position. Moreover, organizations with a high supportive position and participation had low power/authority and resources to cope with COVID-19. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-14219-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mohamadian
- Health Management Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taha Nasiri
- Health Management Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadkarim Bahadori
- Health Management Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Habib Jalilian
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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Koudjom E, Tamwo S, Kpognon KD. Does poverty increase COVID-19 in Africa? A cross-country analysis. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2022; 12:51. [PMID: 36214933 PMCID: PMC9549455 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-022-00399-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most economies in African countries are informal. As such, households in these countries tend to face higher levels of informality coupled with a lack of social protection, and have no replacement income or savings in the event of unexpected external shocks, such as COVID-19. Thus, the COVID-19 shock and its negative economic effects triggered a cascade of income losses and bankruptcies that pushed a significant share of households in African countries into poverty. This research analyzes the effect of poverty on the spread of COVID-19 using a sample of 52 African countries. METHODS To achieve the objective of this research, this paper uses a multiple linear regression model and a sample of 52 African countries observed in 2020 to conduct a cross-country analysis. More importantly, two COVID-19 indicators (total number of officially reported cases and disease severity) and six poverty indicators (average poverty, poverty incidence, poverty depth, poverty severity, multidimensional poverty index, and extreme poverty) were used in this research. RESULTS The results show a positive and significant relationship between poverty and the spread of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that more attention needs to be paid to poor populations in African countries during the pandemic. These populations are generally vulnerable, and there is a need for support programs targeting them to be put in place quickly. These programs may include food aid, distribution of supplies, health care support, fee waivers, and interest deferrals. In addition, sensitization of these disadvantaged groups on vaccination against COVID-19 to achieve herd immunity is strongly encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etayibtalnam Koudjom
- Laboratory of Agricultural Economics and Applied Macroeconomics (LEAMA), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
| | - Sévérin Tamwo
- Center for Studies and Research in Economics and Management (CEREG), University of Yaoundé II-Soa, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Koffi D Kpognon
- African Development Bank, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Institutional Economics Research Team (ERECI), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
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Savard Lamothe A, Gabet M, Richard Z, Oliveira SRDA, Coulibaly A, Cazarin G, Zacarias A, Gautier L, Ridde V, Zinszer K. A Descriptive Comparison of Mass Testing During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal, Paris, Bamako, and Recife. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1604992. [PMID: 36213140 PMCID: PMC9537363 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this descriptive article was to compare mass testing for SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal, Canada; Bamako, Mali; Paris, France; and Recife, Brazil.Methods: Data was collected through interviews with key informants involved in the testing response and a review of the grey literature. The TIDieR-PHP checklist was then used to provide the basis of the intervention descriptions and to compare the data between cities.Results: Descriptive comparisons revealed that the type of test, the testing process, and materials used were similar between the cities during the first wave of the pandemic. In addition, all cities experienced similar material and personnel resource shortages, directly affecting testing accessibility and capacity. The main differences were related to testing capacity and implementation timelines, which were dependent on the state of the health care systems, governance, and access to resources.Conclusion: Results of this study highlight the similarities and differences in testing between the cities and demonstrate the importance of comprehensive intervention descriptions to highlight lessons learned, increase knowledge sharing, and inform policy decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Savard Lamothe
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Ashley Savard Lamothe,
| | - Morgane Gabet
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Zoé Richard
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Centre Population et Développement (Ceped), Paris, France
| | | | | | - Gisèle Cazarin
- Institut Aggeu Magalhães, Oswaldo Cruz Fondacion, Recife, Brazil
| | - Amanda Zacarias
- Institut Aggeu Magalhães, Oswaldo Cruz Fondacion, Recife, Brazil
| | - Lara Gautier
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Valéry Ridde
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Centre Population et Développement (Ceped), Paris, France
| | - Kate Zinszer
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Montréal, QC, Canada
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Mardiyanta A, Wijaya CN. Policy capacity during COVID-19 in Asia: A systematic literature review. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS 2022; 23:e2835. [PMID: 35942244 PMCID: PMC9349412 DOI: 10.1002/pa.2835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has revealed the policy capacity of some governance institutions, both resilience and vulnerability. Hence, this circumstance has demanded public administration scholars and practitioners to rethink the existing governance practices, particularly in making effective crisis-related policies. This paper reviewed primary and secondary studies exploring the application of policy capacity competencies in facilitating COVID-19 handling in Asia. In achieving so, we did a systematic literature review of relevant studies published between January and October 2020. Applying the agreed search term to several databases, we found 2541 studies, while merely 30 were included for review. Findings from the studies are predominantly closely linked to operational capacity (n = 21). Other studies are related to political and analytical capacity (n = 14 and 7, retrospectively). We found that there are some dilemmas and inadequacy of understanding concerning the role of features in certain capacities (such as technology use versus individual privacy, the paradox of trust and legitimacy, or centralisation versus decentralisation), particularly in the time of crisis, which is a calling for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antun Mardiyanta
- Department of Public AdministrationUniversitas AirlanggaSurabayaEast JavaIndonesia
| | - Calvin Nathan Wijaya
- Department of Public AdministrationUniversitas AirlanggaSurabayaEast JavaIndonesia
- Reformed Center for Religion and SocietyJakartaDKI JakartaIndonesia
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Kim S, Crawford J, Hunter S. Role of an Online Skill-Based Mindfulness Program for Healthcare Worker's Resiliency During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method Study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:907528. [PMID: 35910930 PMCID: PMC9330380 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.907528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the mental health care needs of health care workers. The primary aim of this study was to explore the effects of an online mindfulness program on resiliency in health care workers during the pandemic using a mixed-methods approach. An online 4-week mindfulness program was delivered to healthcare workers (N = 130) in Ontario, Canada. Resiliency was assessed at 3-time points (i.e., pre, post, and 1-month follow-up), and the mindfulness program's efficacy on resiliency was analyzed using linear regression. Semi-structured interviews (N = 10) were conducted to substantiate their experiences. Healthcare workers' resiliency significantly increased after the mindfulness program compared to the baseline, maintaining the effect after 1 month in both unadjusted and adjusted regression models. These findings were further bolstered by the positive experiences shared by participants highlighting the program's efficacy on empathy and resiliency. Evidence suggests that mindfulness is associated with promoting resiliency in healthcare workers and may be an important strategy to promote resiliency in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Kim
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Soyeon Kim
| | - Jennifer Crawford
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Hunter
- Research and Innovation, Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology, Barrie, ON, Canada
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Kia H, Rutherford L, Jackson R, Grigorovich A, Ricote CL, Scheim AI, Bauer GR. Impacts of COVID-19 on trans and non-binary people in Canada: a qualitative analysis of responses to a national survey. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1284. [PMID: 35780082 PMCID: PMC9250198 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13684-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Emerging international evidence indicates the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated socioeconomic and health challenges faced by transgender (trans) and non-binary populations globally. This qualitative study is among the first to characterize impacts of the pandemic on these groups in Canada. Methods Drawing on data from the Trans PULSE Canada survey (N = 820), we used thematic analysis to examine the free-form responses of 697 participants to one open-ended question on impacts of the pandemic. We first organized responses into descriptive themes, and then used this preliminary analytical process to construct more refined, higher order themes that provided a rich account of the pandemic’s impacts. Results Our results are organized into five themes that highlight the pandemic’s impacts on trans and non-binary populations in Canada. These include: (1) reduced access to both gender-affirming and other healthcare, (2) heightened financial, employment, and housing precarity, (3) strained social networks in an era of physical distancing and virtual communication, (4) an intensification of safety concerns, and (5) changes in experiences of gender affirmation. Conclusion Our findings highlight the pandemic’s systemic impacts on the lives of trans and non-binary people in domains such as healthcare, employment, and housing, and on the social networks of these groups, many of which reflect an exacerbation of pre-existing inequities. Based on our analysis, we recommend that public health researchers, policymakers, and practitioners attend to the structural impacts of the pandemic on these groups as primary sites of inquiry and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Kia
- School of Social Work, The University of British Columbia, 2080 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada.
| | - Leo Rutherford
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Room B202, Human and Social Development Building, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Randy Jackson
- School of Social Work, McMaster University, Room 319, Kenneth Taylor Hall, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M4, Canada.,Department of Health, Aging and Society, McMaster University, Room 226, Kenneth Taylor Hall, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M4, Canada
| | - Alisa Grigorovich
- Recreation and Leisure Studies, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Carol Lopez Ricote
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, 3rd Floor, Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
| | - Ayden I Scheim
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, 3rd Floor, Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Greta R Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, 3rd Floor, Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine, 1465 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6G 2M1, Canada
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Eslamzadeh M, Fayyazi Bordbar MR, Moodi Ghalibaf A, Modaresi F, Emadzadeh M, Farhoudi F. The role of personality traits in following quarantine orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2022; 37:173-178. [PMID: 35661660 PMCID: PMC9169753 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Patients' personalities seem to affect their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the association of personality traits and characteristics of Iranian COVID-19 outpatients with their compliance to nonmandatory quarantine orders. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020-2021 on 97 COVID-19 outpatients. The temperament and character inventory-revised short version (TCI-RS) and a self-report checklist assessing compliance with quarantine orders were used to collect data. SPSS was used to analyze the data and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of 142 patients who were contacted, 97 participated in the study (68% response rate). The mean age of patients was 39.21 ± 10.27 years and 54 (55.7%) of them were men. Compliance with quarantine orders was correlated with cooperativeness (r = 0.33; P = 0.001), persistence (r = 0.23, P = 0.020), self-transcendence (r = 0.27, P = 0.006) and harm avoidance (r = -0.26, P = 0.008). Linear regression analysis demonstrated persistence (P = 0.034), cooperativeness (P = 0.008) and being married (P = 0.002) as predictors for following the quarantine orders. Lower levels of cooperativeness, persistence, self-transcendence, and higher levels of harm avoidance are associated with noncompliance with quarantine orders. These traits should be considered while persuasive communication to the public is formulated to recognize the target population and increase compliance with nonmandatory quarantine orders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - AmirAli Moodi Ghalibaf
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand
| | | | - Maryam Emadzadeh
- Clinical Research Development Unit, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad
| | - Fateme Farhoudi
- Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Jahani H, Chaleshtori AE, Khaksar SMS, Aghaie A, Sheu JB. COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning using a congested queuing system-A real case from Australia. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. PART E, LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORTATION REVIEW 2022; 163:102749. [PMID: 35664528 PMCID: PMC9149026 DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2022.102749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Crisis-induced vaccine supply chain management has recently drawn attention to the importance of immediate responses to a crisis (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). This study develops a queuing model for a crisis-induced vaccine supply chain to ensure efficient coordination and distribution of different COVID-19 vaccine types to people with various levels of vulnerability. We define a utility function for queues to study the changes in arrival rates related to the inventory level of vaccines, the efficiency of vaccines, and a risk aversion coefficient for vaccinees. A multi-period queuing model considering congestion in the vaccination process is proposed to minimise two contradictory objectives: (i) the expected average wait time of vaccinees and (ii) the total investment in the holding and ordering of vaccines. To develop the bi-objective non-linear programming model, the goal attainment algorithm and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) are employed for small- to large-scale problems. Several solution repairs are also implemented in the classic NSGA-II algorithm to improve its efficiency. Four standard performance metrics are used to investigate the algorithm. The non-parametric Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests are applied on several numerical examples to ensure the privilege of the improved algorithm. The NSGA-II algorithm surveys an authentic case study in Australia, and several scenarios are created to provide insights for an efficient vaccination program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Jahani
- School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Jiuh-Biing Sheu
- Department of Business Administration, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
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35
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Erkoreka M, Hernando‐Pérez J. Decentralization: A handicap in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic? The response of the regional governments in Spain. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT : A JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 2022; 43:PAD1988. [PMID: 35942434 PMCID: PMC9349406 DOI: 10.1002/pad.1988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an ultimate testing ground for evaluating the resilience and effectiveness of federal and decentralized systems. The article analyses how the Spanish asymmetrical system of decentralization has responded to the pandemic, focusing on the management developed by the sub-central governments (Autonomous Communities) during the first two waves of the pandemic in 2020. The research, which is both quantitative and qualitative, employs multidisciplinary tools and information sources, analyzing and linking fiscal and budgetary sources with the available statistics and information on health. Although the health, economic and social crisis caused by COVID-19 has highlighted appreciable shortcomings related to the decentralized model of territorial organization - in questions of both regional financing and health management - the research concludes that decentralization has not per se been a handicap when confronting the pandemic in Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikel Erkoreka
- Ituna Center for Basque Economic Agreement and Fiscal Federalism StudiesUniversity of the Basque CountryBilbaoSpain
| | - Josu Hernando‐Pérez
- Basque Museum of the History of Medicine and ScienceUniversity of the Basque CountryBilbaoSpain
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36
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Lv A, Luo T, Duckett J. Centralization vs. Decentralization in COVID-19 Responses: Lessons from China. JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLITICS, POLICY AND LAW 2022; 47:411-427. [PMID: 34847219 DOI: 10.1215/03616878-9626908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have begun to examine whether centralized or decentralized (or federal) political systems have better responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we probe beneath the surface of China's political system to examine the balance between centralized and decentralized authority in China's handling of the pandemic. We focus not on the much-studied later response phase but on the detection and early response phases. We show that after the SARS epidemic of 2003, China sought to improve its systems by both centralizing early infectious disease reporting and decentralizing authority to respond to local health emergencies. But these adjustments in the central-local balance of authority after SARS did not change "normal times" authority relations and incentive structures in the political system-indeed they strengthened local authority. As a result, local leaders had both the enhanced authority and the incentives to prioritize tasks that determine their political advancement at the cost of containing the spread of COVID-19. China's efforts to balance central and local authority show just how difficult it is to get that balance right, especially in the early phases of a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting Luo
- Manchester Metropolitan University
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37
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Who took care of what? The gender division of unpaid work during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in France. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.4054/demres.2022.46.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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38
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Language and the cultural markers of COVID-19. Soc Sci Med 2022; 301:114886. [PMID: 35306267 PMCID: PMC8923013 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114886] [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: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite its universal nature, the impact of COVID-19 has not been geographically homogeneous. While certain countries and regions have been severely affected, registering record infection rates and excess deaths, others experienced only milder outbreaks. We investigate to what extent human factors, in particular cultural origins reflected in different attitudes and behavioural norms, can explain different degrees of exposure to the virus. Motivated by the linguistic relativity hypothesis, we take language as a proxy for cultural origins and exploit the exogenous variation in the language spoken around the border that divides the French- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland to estimate the impact of culture on exposure to COVID-19. The results obtained using a spatial regression discontinuity design reveal, that within 50- and 25- kilometres bandwidth from the language border, the average COVID-19 exposure levels for individuals in French speaking municipalities was higher. In particular, we find that German speaking municipalities were associated with a reduction of around 40% - 50% in the odds of COVID-19 exposure compared to the French speaking municipalities.
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Challenges and Drawbacks of the EU Medical System Generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Field of Health Systems' Digitalization. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19094950. [PMID: 35564345 PMCID: PMC9100197 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19094950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the digitalization of medical services present significant challenges for the medical sector of the European Union, with profound implications for health systems and the provision of high-performance public health services. The sustainability and resilience of health systems are based on the introduction of information and communication technology in health processes and services, eliminating the vulnerability that can have significant consequences for health, social cohesion, and economic progress. This research aims to assess the impact of digitalization on several dimensions of health, introducing specific implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research methodology consists of three procedures: cluster analysis performed through vector quantization, agglomerative clustering, and an analytical approach consisting of data mapping. The main results highlight the importance of effective national responses and provide recommendations, various priorities, and objectives to strengthen health systems at the European level. Finally, the results reveal the need to reduce the gaps between the EU member states and a new approach to policy, governance, investment, health spending, and the performing provision of digital services.
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40
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Ziani M, Trépanier E, Goyette M. Voices of Teens and Young Adults on the Subject of Teleconsultation in the COVID-19 Context. J Patient Exp 2022; 9:23743735221092565. [PMID: 35434286 PMCID: PMC9008313 DOI: 10.1177/23743735221092565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes the perceptions of adolescents and young adults aged 14 to
25 years who live in Québec (Canada) and obtained health services via
teleconsultation for the first time, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eleven
young people who had received physical health services (medicine, physiotherapy,
speech therapy, or nutritionist) participated in virtual semi-structured
interviews. These interviews shed light on how these adolescents and young
adults experienced the adaptation of the intervention and how effective they
perceived the intervention to be. The article concludes with some thoughts for
practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Ziani
- École nationale d’administration publique, Montréal, Canada
| | - Emmanuelle Trépanier
- Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d’urgence, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Martin Goyette
- École nationale d’administration publique, Montréal, Canada
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Social Cohesion and Community Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Romania. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084587. [PMID: 35457454 PMCID: PMC9025098 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the lock-down have highlighted the growing awareness of the need to involve the population in solving problems that directly affect the existence and trajectory of the life of the individual and civil society in the local, national, and regional context. The article aims both to analyze the reaction of formal and informal civil society in a context of major crisis and to analyze how the population perceives the involvement of civil society at the level of a county in Romania and its county seat city. The present sociological diagnosis used data that were collected through an online survey at the beginning of May 2020 among the population of Suceava County. It was sought to identify how the reaction of civil society was perceived and how it was mobilized, as well as how the mass media contributed to reducing the effects of the pandemic. After the elimination phase of non-compliant responses, the volume of the sample included a total of 1231 people. The results of the study indicate that this pandemic context, which manifested as a major crisis, also had positive effects in the sense of mobilizing latent but extensive energies at the local level, whose manifestation contributed to diminishing and limiting the effects of the sanitary crisis the county faced. The media, as a component of civil society, has managed to mobilize important segments of the population, both in quarantined localities and in other localities in Suceava County and Moldova. The COVID-19 crisis tested the social cohesion and resilience of communities and offered perhaps one of the most remarkable lessons of solidarity in the post-December period, both locally and nationally. Although the perception of Romanians on the role of civil society would rather be part of a culture of individualism, in extreme situations it was found that its activity has never been more important.
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A Resilience-Based (RB) Methodology to Assess Resilience of Health System Infrastructures to Epidemic Crisis. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12063032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of resilience of health infrastructures during an epidemic crisis is a fundamental issue in civil engineering, as shown by the recent COVID-19 crisis. During epidemic crises, health services and infrastructures need to maintain a level of functionality and avoid failures. In addition, it is important to evaluate post-hazard procedures, such as emergency and recovery actions. In this regard, the paper applied resilience as a parameter to assess investments, countermeasures and mitigations. The Resilience-Based (RB) methodology herein proposed was then applied to quantify the resilience of health infrastructure systems by considering the recovery of four European Countries (Germany, France, United Kingdom and Italy) after the first wave of COVID-19. The results demonstrated that the resilience of health system infrastructures (HSI) depends significantly on the policies that every government management applied—these being ultimately responsible for the differences in respective COVID impacts. In particular, the principal advantage of using resilience lies in its readability by many stakeholders, such as health infrastructure managers, government owners and public authorities.
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Falkenbach M, Willison C. Resources or Trust: What matters more in the vaccination strategies of high-income liberal democracies? HEALTH POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY 2022; 11:100618. [PMID: 35369129 PMCID: PMC8956345 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2022.100618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Methods Results Conclusion
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Falkenbach
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, 618 Tower Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Charley Willison
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, 618 Tower Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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Easton M, De Paepe J, Evans P, W.Head B, Yarnold J. Embedding Expertise for Policy Responses to COVID-19: Comparing Decision-Making Structures in Two Federal Democracies. PUBLIC ORGANIZATION REVIEW 2022; 22:309-326. [PMCID: PMC9086124 DOI: 10.1007/s11115-022-00629-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 crisis focused attention on how experts from different scientific fields provided advice to governments through expert committees and task forces. We compared experiences in two federal democracies, Belgium and Australia, by applying a mixed methods approach (literature review, media review, policy documents analysis). This comparative study found that expertise was institutionalized in different ways and its processes and priorities shifted over time. The policy coordination challenges inherent in federalism were largely overcome in Australia through strongly embedded health advisory processes. In Belgium, the advisory process was less stable, with advisory councils being abandoned, replaced, expanded, or downgraded during the course of the crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jasper De Paepe
- Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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45
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Benoît C, Hay C. The antinomies of sovereigntism, statism and liberalism in European democratic responses to the COVID-19 crisis: a comparison of Britain and France. COMPARATIVE EUROPEAN POLITICS 2022. [PMCID: PMC8959796 DOI: 10.1057/s41295-022-00274-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
This paper argues that the current COVID-19 pandemic reveals and in a sense crystallizes a series of long-standing tensions about sovereignty that have become increasingly salient in the advanced capitalist democracies of the European Union. The spread of the pandemic led first to the activation of a conflict between a ‘sovereigntist reflex’ privileging the expression of national capacities and national self-reliance and a more ‘perforated’ understanding of sovereignty stressing the interdependence of peoples and states, both geographically and institutionally. As the response to COVID itself became more politicized we see the emergence of a second tension, between a libertarian ‘reflex’ supporting a residual state protecting liberties and facilitating individual choice and a sovereign-statist ‘instinct’, calling for an empowered guardian of the public good capable of ensuring collective security. A third tension relates to the seemingly growing opposition between a conception of sovereignty founded (and contingent) upon the will of the people and one in which the sovereign is, simultaneously, the discerner, defender and ultimate guarantor of the public good. After having mapped out these interwoven tensions and their main fault lines in general terms, the paper proceeds comparatively, tracking and tracing their (differential and specific) presence in governmental responses in two advanced capitalist democracies, France and Britain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Benoît
- Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, Sciences Po, Paris, France
| | - Colin Hay
- Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, Sciences Po, Paris, France
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46
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Allin S, Fitzpatrick T, Marchildon GP, Quesnel-Vallée A. The federal government and Canada's COVID-19 responses: from 'we're ready, we're prepared' to 'fires are burning'. HEALTH ECONOMICS, POLICY, AND LAW 2022; 17:76-94. [PMID: 34154692 PMCID: PMC8326669 DOI: 10.1017/s1744133121000220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Canada's experience with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been characterized by considerable regional variation, as would be expected in a highly decentralized federation. Yet, the country has been beset by challenges, similar to many of those documented in the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak of 2003. Despite a high degree of pandemic preparedness, the relative success with flattening the curve during the first wave of the pandemic was not matched in much of Canada during the second wave. This paper critically reviews Canada's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the role of the federal government in this public health emergency, considering areas within its jurisdiction (international borders), areas where an increased federal role may be warranted (long-term care), as well as its technical role in terms of generating evidence and supporting public health surveillance, and its convening role to support collaboration across the country. This accounting of the first 12 months of the pandemic highlights opportunities for a strengthened federal role in the short term, and some important lessons to be applied in preparing for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Allin
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (NAO), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tiffany Fitzpatrick
- North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (NAO), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gregory P. Marchildon
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (NAO), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amélie Quesnel-Vallée
- North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (NAO), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and Sociology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill Observatory on Health and Social Services Reforms, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Antonini M, Eid MA, Falkenbach M, Rosenbluth ST, Prieto PA, Brammli-Greenberg S, McMeekin P, Paolucci F. An analysis of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in France, Israel, Italy and Spain and their impact on health and economic outcomes. HEALTH POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY 2021; 11:100594. [PMID: 34976711 PMCID: PMC8702636 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2021.100594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Objectives This paper presents an overview of the vaccination campaigns in France, Israel, Italy and Spain during the first eleven months from the first COVID-19 vaccine approval (Dec 2020 - Nov 2021). These four countries were chosen as they share similar socioeconomic, and epidemiological profiles and adopted similar vaccination strategies. Methods A rapid review of available primary data from each country was conducted. Data were collected from official government documents whenever possible, supplemented by information from international databases and local reports. The data were analysed via descriptive and graphical analysis to identify common patterns as well as significant divergences in the structural changes of countries’ healthcare systems during the pandemic, outcomes of the vaccination roll-out, and their impact on contextual policies. Results The four countries adopted similar interventions to protect and strengthen their healthcare systems. The effective coordination between the governance levels, ability to ensure a large supply of doses, and trust towards health authorities were amongst the determinants for more successful vaccination outcomes. The analysis reports a positive impact of the COVID-19 vaccines on epidemiological, political and economic outcomes. We observed some evidence of a negative association between increased vaccine coverage and fatalities and hospitalisation trends. Conclusions The strengths and weaknesses of COVID-19 pandemic crisis management along with the various strategies surrounding the vaccination roll-out campaigns may yield lessons for policymakers amidst such decisions, including for future pandemics. Lay summary This paper presents an overview of the vaccination campaigns in France, Israel, Italy and Spain during the first eleven months following approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine (Dec 2020 - Nov 2021). These four countries were chosen as they share similar demographic, socioeconomic, and epidemiological profiles, and adopted similar vaccinations strategies. Effective coordination between governance levels, ability to ensure a large supply of doses, and trust towards health authorities were amongst the determinants for successful outcomes of vaccination campaigns. The strengths and weaknesses of COVID-19 pandemic crisis management, along with the various strategies surrounding the vaccination roll-out campaigns may yield lessons for policymakers amidst such decisions, including for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Antonini
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Dr, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Marwa Atef Eid
- Department of Sociology and Business Law, University of Bologna, Strada Maggiore 45, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | | | - Sharona Tsadok Rosenbluth
- Department of Policy and Health Systems Management, School of public health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
| | | | - Shuli Brammli-Greenberg
- Department of Health Administration and Economics, Braun School of public health, Faculty of Medicine, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
| | - Peter McMeekin
- Department of Nursing, Midwifery & Health, Northumbria University, Coach Lane Campus, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7AX, UK.,Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Francesco Paolucci
- Department of Sociology and Business Law, University of Bologna, Strada Maggiore 45, Bologna 40126, Italy.,Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, Hunter St &, Auckland St, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia
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Rocco P, Rich JAJ, Klasa K, Dubin KA, Béland D. Who Counts Where? COVID-19 Surveillance in Federal Countries. JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLITICS, POLICY AND LAW 2021; 46:959-987. [PMID: 34075406 DOI: 10.1215/03616878-9349114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT While the World Health Organization (WHO) has established guidance on COVID-19 surveillance, little is known about implementation of these guidelines in federations, which fragment authority across multiple levels of government. This study examines how subnational governments in federal democracies collect and report data on COVID-19 cases and mortality associated with COVID-19. METHODS We collected data from subnational government websites in 15 federal democracies to construct indices of COVID-19 data quality. Using bivariate and multivariate regression, we analyzed the relationship between these indices and indicators of state capacity, the decentralization of resources and authority, and the quality of democratic institutions. We supplement these quantitative analyses with qualitative case studies of subnational COVID-19 data in Brazil, Spain, and the United States. FINDINGS Subnational governments in federations vary in their collection of data on COVID-19 mortality, testing, hospitalization, and demographics. There are statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) between subnational data quality and key indicators of public health system capacity, fiscal decentralization, and the quality of democratic institutions. Case studies illustrate the importance of both governmental and civil-society institutions that foster accountability. CONCLUSIONS The quality of subnational COVID-19 surveillance data in federations depends in part on public health system capacity, fiscal decentralization, and the quality of democracy.
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Alsaïdi I, De Sousa Santos F, Plard B, Janvier E, Tinland A, Hafni A, Mosnier E. Factors associated with SARS-CoV2 infection and care pathways among the most vulnerable populations living in Marseille: a case control study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1704. [PMID: 34538240 PMCID: PMC8449995 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11716-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Covid-19 pandemic has led to substantial and unexpected increases in morbidity and mortality in France. Vulnerable populations housed in accommodation centres have a greater risk of infection because collective housing and their dependence on social support services mean it is more difficult to apply preventive measures. They are also at greater risk of developing severe forms of Covid-19 and waiting longer before seeking healthcare (for Covid-19 or other) treatment. We aimed to identify the factors associated with SARS-CoV2 infection in the most vulnerable populations in the city of Marseille. METHODS The study sample comprised users of various services provided by the association AAJT in Marseille, France, some presenting symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 and others not. All had routine health surveillance provided by AAJT's dedicated healthcare team between March 2020 and May 2020. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we studied the influence of several variables on morbidity associated with Covid-19. RESULTS The study included 64 participants, 29 of whom tested positive for Covid-19 and 35 control subjects. Median age was 21.16 years old. Individuals in the 'Covid-19 case' group (p < 0.005) - which included persons testing positive and those suspected of being infected - were younger. The study sample's male/female ratio was seven. In our multivariate analyses, living in a shared apartment and poor adherence to social distancing measures were factors associated with Covid-19 infection. Furthermore, mental health problems - such as anxiety disorder - were very frequent in the study sample. CONCLUSIONS Allocating more and specific housing units to structures providing accommodation services to the most vulnerable people would seem to be a decisive factor in controlling the spread of SARS-CoV2, and deserves more attention from public authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismaïl Alsaïdi
- Aix-Marseille University, School of Medicine - La Timone Medical Campus, Marseille, France.
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, ISSPAM, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Bérengère Plard
- Association d'Aide aux Jeunes Travailleurs, Marseille, France
| | - Elise Janvier
- Association d'Aide aux Jeunes Travailleurs, Marseille, France
| | - Aurélie Tinland
- Aix-Marseille University, School of Medicine - La Timone Medical Campus, Marseille, France
- CEReSS - Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Marseille, France
| | | | - Emilie Mosnier
- Aix-Marseille University, School of Medicine - La Timone Medical Campus, Marseille, France
- Centre Hospitalier d'Alès-Cévenne, Alès, France
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
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Francetic I. Bad law or implementation flaws? Lessons from the implementation of the new law on epidemics during the response to the first wave of COVID-19 in Switzerland. Health Policy 2021; 125:1285-1290. [PMID: 34470711 PMCID: PMC8364769 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
After the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic, Switzerland overhauled its 1970 law on epidemics. The reform aimed at improving early detection, surveillance, and preparedness for future outbreaks of infectious diseases. Notably, the law introduced stronger coordination between Federal and Cantonal authorities, better management tools and international cooperation. The new law entered into force in 2016 after a long legislative process. During the process, the law survived a referendum fuelled by concerns about vaccine safety and pharmaceutical industry interference. The law was first applied during the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The epicentre of the outbreak in Europe was in Lombardy, a large Italian region adjacent to Switzerland and with strong economic ties with its southern region of Ticino. The first months of pandemic response highlighted two major weaknesses. Firstly, the mechanisms introduced by the new law did not ease the tension between Cantonal autonomy and central coordination of the pandemic response. Central and Cantonal authorities will need to put in place new rules and arrangements to avoid dangerous delayed responses to foreseeable problems related to the spread of infectious diseases. Secondly, relevant stakeholders excluded from the policymaking process (trade unions, firms, large industries) should be involved to allow the introduction of harsh restrictions when needed, both internally and in relation to cross-border workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Francetic
- Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno, Switzerland.
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