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Cheng J, Kuang X, Zeng L. The impact of human resources for health on the health outcomes of Chinese people. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1213. [PMID: 36175870 PMCID: PMC9521871 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08540-y] [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: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Human resources for health (HRH) is a cornerstone in the medical system. This paper combined data envelopment analysis (DEA) with Tobit regression analysis to evaluate the efficiency of health care services in China over the years between 2007 and 2019. Efficiency was first estimated by using DEA with the choice of inputs and outputs being specific to health care services and residents' health status. Malmquist index model was selected for estimating the changes in total factor productivity of provinces and exploring whether their performance had improved over the years. Tobit regression model was then employed in which the efficiency score obtained from the DEA computations used as the dependent variable, and HRH was chosen as the independent variables. The results showed that all kinds of health personnel had a significantly positive impact on the efficiency, and more importantly, pharmacists played a critical role in affecting both the provincial and national efficiency. Therefore, the health sector should pay more attention to optimizing allocation of HRH and focusing on professional training of clinical pharmacists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Cheng
- School of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, Liaoning, China.
| | - Xianming Kuang
- Center for Economic Research, China Institute for Reform and Development, Haikou, 570311, Hainan, China
| | - Linghuang Zeng
- Human Resources Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570102, Hainan, China
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Bai X, Gan X, Yang R, Zhang C, Luo X, Luo C, Chen S. Construction of a competency evaluation index system for front-line nurses during the outbreak of major infectious diseases: A Delphi study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270902. [PMID: 35776753 PMCID: PMC9249240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction As the frequency of infectious diseases rises, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to the competency level of front-line nurses as the primary force in front-line rescue, which has an impact on the quality of anti-epidemic response. This paper aims to construct the competency evaluation index system for front-line nurses during the outbreak of major infectious diseases. Materials and methods This study combined literature review, critical incident technique interviews, and semi-structured in-depth interviews, as well as two rounds of Delphi expert correspondence, to construct a competence evaluation index system for front-line nurses during the outbreak of major infectious diseases. The study used purposive sampling to select 26 experts from 11 provinces and cities across China to conduct two rounds of Delphi expert consultation, and the indicators were selected based on the mean importance score > 3.5 and the coefficient of variation < 0.25, and the weights of the indicators were calculated by the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The effective recovery rates of the two rounds of correspondence questionnaires were 93.1% and 96%. Results The effective recovery rates of the two rounds of correspondence questionnaires were 93.1% and 96%, the authority coefficients of experts were 0.96 and 0.98, the Kendall’s coordination coefficients of the first, second, and third level indexes were 0.281, 0.132, and 0.285 (P < 0.001), 0.259, 0.158, and 0.415 (P < 0.001). The final index system includes 4 primary indicators (Knowledge System of Infectious Diseases, Nursing Skills for Infectious Diseases, Related Professional Abilities for Infectious Diseases, and Comprehensive Quality), 10 secondary indicators, and 64 tertiary indicators. Conclusion The competency evaluation index system of front-line nurses during the outbreak of major infectious diseases is scientific, reasonable, and practical, which can provide a scientific basis for nursing managers to accurately understand, describe, analyze, and evaluate the competence level of nursing staff and scientifically implement the allocation of human resources in the future, as well as serve as a content framework for subsequent training programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Bai
- Department of Nursing, The Second Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiuni Gan
- Department of Nursing, The Second Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Ruiqi Yang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Second Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chuanlai Zhang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Second Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoqin Luo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chengqin Luo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Senlin Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Asamani JA, Christmals CD, Reitsma GM. The needs-based health workforce planning method: a systematic scoping review of analytical applications. Health Policy Plan 2021; 36:1325-1343. [PMID: 33657210 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the theoretical underpinnings and analytical framework for needs-based health workforce planning are well developed and tested, its uptake in national planning processes is still limited. Towards the development of open-access needs-based planning model for national workforce planning, we conducted a systematic scoping review of analytical applications of needs-based health workforce models. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses-extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist, a systematic scoping review was conducted. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature published in English was undertaken across several databases. Papers retrieved were assessed against predefined inclusion criteria, critically appraised, extracted and synthesized. Twenty-five papers were included, which showed increasing uptake of the needs-based health workforce modelling, with 84% of the studies published within the last decade (2010-20). Three countries (Canada, Australia and England) accounted for 48% of the publications included whilst four studies (16%) were based on low-and-middle-income countries. Only three of the studies were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the studies (36%) reported analytical applications for specific disease areas/programs at sub-national levels; 20% focused on the health system need for particular categories of health workers, and only two (8%) reported the analytical application of the needs-based health workforce approach at the level of a national health system across several disease areas/programs. Amongst the studies that conducted long-term projections, the time horizon of the projection was an average of 17 years, ranging from 3 to 33 years. Most of these studies had a minimum time horizon of 10 years. Across the studies, we synthesized six typical methodological considerations for advancing needs-based health workforce modelling. As countries aspire to align health workforce investments with population health needs, the need for some level of methodological harmonization, open-access needs-based models and guidelines for policy-oriented country-level use is not only imperative but urgent.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Avoka Asamani
- Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Building PC-G16, Office 101,11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, North West Province, South Africa.,World Health Organisation, Regional Office for Africa. Universal Health Coverage - Life Course Cluster Intercountry Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa 82 - 86 Cnr Enterprise/Glenara Roads Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Christmal Dela Christmals
- Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Building PC-G16, Office 101,11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, North West Province, South Africa
| | - Gerda Marie Reitsma
- Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Building PC-G16, Office 101,11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, North West Province, South Africa
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Karimi Dehkordi N, Abbasi AF, Radmard Lord M, Soleimanpour S, Goharinezhad S. Interventions to Improve the Willingness to Work Among Health care Professionals in Times of Disaster: A Scoping Review. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2021; 58:469580211059959. [PMID: 34903077 PMCID: PMC8679035 DOI: 10.1177/00469580211059959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The critical role of the health workforce in the function of the health care system is undeniable. In times of disaster and public health emergency, the importance of this valuable resource for the organization multiplies. This scoping review was conducted to identify, analyze, and categorize interventions to improve willingness to work in times of disaster as well as the existing knowledge gaps in the topic. For this purpose, four databases were searched. These included Scopus, PubMed, WOS, and World Health Organization observatory, and they were searched for papers published from July 2000 to September 2020. Studies of the English language that described strategies to improve human resources for health willingness to work during times of disaster/public health emergency were included. Full-text papers were screened by authors and data extraction was done according to self-designed form. Framework analysis identified key interventions based on human resources for health action framework. From 6246 search results, 52 articles were included, a great portion of which was published in 2020 probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Northern America was the region with most studies. From 52 included studies, 21 papers have reported the interventions to improve willingness to work and 31 papers have explored factors that affected a willingness to work. The interventions used in the studies were categorized into five themes as Leadership, Partnership, Financing, Education, and Organizational policies. The most and least interventions were financial and partnership respectively. The review identified a wide range of feasible strategies and interventions to improve human resources for health's willingness to work at times of disaster that are expected to be effective. Organizations should let the staff know these decisions and as a necessary step in every organizational intervention remember to evaluate the impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Karimi Dehkordi
- Student Research Committee, School
of Medicine, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Farhang Abbasi
- Student Research Committee, School
of Medicine, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Radmard Lord
- Student Research Committee, School
of Medicine, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Soleimanpour
- Department of Medical Library and
Information Sciences, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Salime Goharinezhad
- Preventive Medicine and Public
Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Health Management and Economics
Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Cui S, Zhang L, Yan H, Shi Q, Jiang Y, Wang Q, Chu J. Experiences and Psychological Adjustments of Nurses Who Voluntarily Supported COVID-19 Patients in Hubei Province, China. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2020; 13:1135-1145. [PMID: 33312005 PMCID: PMC7727274 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s283876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major threat to global public health and economic development. Moreover, it has put considerable psychological pressure on nurses, who have played a vital role in the prevention and control of the epidemic. Objective This qualitative study aimed at exploring the experiences and psychological adjustments of nurses who voluntarily traveled to Hubei Province in China to provide support during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods We conducted semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with twelve nurses recruited from three hospitals in Jiangsu Province and performed qualitative content analysis of the interview data. Results The following themes emerged from the analysis: (1) motivations for supporting the hardest-hit areas (professional commitment, family support, and media propaganda); (2) challenges faced during the support missions (heavy workloads, changes in working patterns, communication barriers, and barriers associated with wearing personal protective equipment); (3) psychological experiences (a sense of uncertainty, fear of infection, loneliness, stressful events, and sleep disorders); (4) psychological adjustments (adequate training and personal protective equipment, positive responses to stress, and social support); and (5) personal and professional growth (a strong professional identity, a positive work attitude, a perception of expanded possibilities, realization of the value of learning, and cherishing life). Conclusions and Recommendations Policy makers and nursing managers should implement effective measures for supporting nurses. They include ensuring adequate workforce preparedness for nurses, strengthening protection training, including professional psychologists in support teams, encouraging nurses to apply self-regulation methods, such as exercising and listening to music, and seeking social support to promote mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Cui
- Department of Nursing, Nantong Health College of Jiangsu Province, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Nursing, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyan Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianyu Shi
- Department of Nursing, Nantong Health College of Jiangsu Province, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujun Jiang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Nursing, Nantong Health College of Jiangsu Province, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Chu
- Department of Nursing, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Bhandari S, Wahl B, Bennett S, Engineer CY, Pandey P, Peters DH. Identifying core competencies for practicing public health professionals: results from a Delphi exercise in Uttar Pradesh, India. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1737. [PMID: 33203407 PMCID: PMC7670983 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09711-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ensuring the current public health workforce has appropriate competencies to fulfill essential public health functions is challenging in many low- and middle-income countries. The absence of an agreed set of core competencies to provide a basis for developing and assessing knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes contributes to this challenge. This study aims to identify the requisite core competencies for practicing health professionals in mid-level supervisory and program management roles to effectively perform their public health responsibilities in the resource-poor setting of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. METHODS We used a multi-step, interactive Delphi technique to develop an agreed set of public health competencies. A narrative review of core competency frameworks and key informant interviews with human resources for health experts in India were conducted to prepare an initial list of 40 competency statements in eight domains. We then organized a day-long workshop with 22 Indian public health experts and government officials, who added to and modified the initial list. A revised list of 54 competency statements was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Aggregate statement scores were shared with the participants, who discussed the findings. Finally, the revised list was returned to participants for an additional round of ratings. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was used to identify stability between steps, and consensus was defined using the percent agreement criterion. RESULTS Stability between the first and second Delphi scoring steps was reached in 46 of the 54 statements. By the end of the second Delphi scoring step, consensus was reached on 48 competency statements across eight domains: public health sciences, assessment and analysis, policy and program management, financial management and budgeting, partnerships and collaboration, social and cultural determinants, communication, and leadership. CONCLUSIONS This study produced a consensus set of core competencies and domains in public health that can be used to assess competencies of public health professionals and revise or develop new training programs to address desired competencies. Findings can also be used to support workforce development by informing competency-based job descriptions for recruitment and performance management in the Indian context, and potentially can be adapted for use in resource-poor settings globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Bhandari
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Brian Wahl
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sara Bennett
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cyrus Y Engineer
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pooja Pandey
- Indian Administrative Service, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - David H Peters
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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MacKenzie A, Tomblin Murphy G, Audas R. A dynamic, multi-professional, needs-based simulation model to inform human resources for health planning. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2019; 17:42. [PMID: 31196188 PMCID: PMC6567915 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-019-0376-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As population health needs become more complex, addressing those needs increasingly requires the knowledge, skills, and judgment of multiple types of human resources for health (HRH) working interdependently. A growing emphasis on team-delivered health care is evident in several jurisdictions, including those in Canada. However, the most commonly used HRH planning models across Canada and other countries lack the capacity to plan for more than one type of HRH in an integrated manner. The purpose of this paper is to present a dynamic, multi-professional, needs-based simulation model to inform HRH planning and demonstrate the importance of two of its parameters-division of work and clinical focus-which have received comparatively little attention in HRH research to date. METHODS The model estimates HRH requirements by combining features of two previously published needs-based approaches to HRH planning-a dynamic approach designed to plan for a single type of HRH at a time and a multi-professional approach designed to compare HRH supply with requirements at a single point in time. The supplies of different types of HRH are estimated using a stock-and-flow approach. RESULTS The model makes explicit two planning parameters-the division of work across different types of HRH, and the degree of clinical focus among individual types of HRH-which have previously received little attention in the HRH literature. Examples of the impacts of these parameters on HRH planning scenarios are provided to illustrate how failure to account for them may over- or under-estimate the size of any gaps between the supply of and requirements for HRH. CONCLUSION This paper presents a dynamic, multi-professional, needs-based simulation model which can be used to inform HRH planning in different contexts. To facilitate its application by readers, this includes the definition of each parameter and specification of the mathematical relationships between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian MacKenzie
- Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
- WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning and Research, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Gail Tomblin Murphy
- WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning and Research, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, Canada
| | - Rick Audas
- Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
- Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Traicoff D, Pope A, Bloland P, Lal D, Bahl J, Stewart S, Ryman T, Abbruzzese M, Lee C, Ahrendts J, Shamalla L, Sandhu H. Developing standardized competencies to strengthen immunization systems and workforce. Vaccine 2019; 37:1428-1435. [PMID: 30765172 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite global support for immunization as a core component of the human right to health and the maturity of immunization programs in low- and middle-income countries throughout the world, there is no comprehensive description of the standardized competencies needed for immunization programs at the national, multiple sub-national, and community levels. The lack of defined and standardized competencies means countries have few guidelines to help them address immunization workforce planning, program management, and performance monitoring. Potential consequences resulting from the lack of defined competencies include inadequate or inefficient distribution of resources to support the required functions and difficulties in adequately managing the health workforce. In 2015, an international multi-agency working group convened to define standardized competencies that national immunization programs could adapt for their own workforce planning needs. The working group used a stepwise approach to ensure that the competencies would align with immunization programs' objectives. The first step defined the attributes of a successful immunization program. The group then defined the work functions needed to achieve those attributes. Based on the work functions, the working group defined specific competencies. This process resulted in three products: (1) Attributes of an immunization program described within eight technical domains at four levels within a health system: National, Provincial, District/Local, and Community; (2) 229 distinct functions within those eight domains at each of the four levels; and (3) 242 competencies, representing eight technical domains and two foundational domains (Management and Leadership and Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Program). Currently available as a working draft and being tested with immunization projects in several countries, the final document will be published by WHO as normative guidelines. Vertical immunization programs as well as integrated systems can customize the framework to suit their needs. Standardized competencies can support immunization program improvements and help strengthen effective health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Traicoff
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Alice Pope
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Peter Bloland
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Dharmesh Lal
- Public Health Foundation of India, Plot No. 47, Sector 44, Institutional Area, Gurugram 122002, India
| | - Jhilmil Bahl
- World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
| | - Steven Stewart
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Tove Ryman
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 500 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Molly Abbruzzese
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 500 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Carla Lee
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Johannes Ahrendts
- Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, Global Health Campus, Chemin du Pommier 40, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Lorraine Shamalla
- UNICEF, Programme Division/Polio, 3 United Nation Plaza, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA.
| | - Hardeep Sandhu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
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Murphy GT, Birch S, Mackenzie A, Rigby J, Langley J. An Integrated Needs-Based Approach to Health Service and Health Workforce Planning: Applications for Pandemic Influenza. Healthc Policy 2017; 13:28-42. [PMID: 28906234 PMCID: PMC5595212 DOI: 10.12927/hcpol.2017.25193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthcare systems must be responsive to the healthcare needs of the populations they serve. However, typically neither health services nor health workforce planning account for populations' needs for care, resulting in substantial and unnecessary unmet needs. These are further exacerbated during unexpected surges in need, such as pandemics or natural disasters. To illustrate the potential of improved methods to help planning for these types of events, we applied an integrated, needs-based approach to health service and workforce planning in the context of a potential influenza pandemic at the provincial level in Canada. This application provides evidence on the province's capacity to respond to surges in need for healthcare and identifies specific services which may be in short supply in such scenarios. This type of approach can be implemented by planners to address a variety of health issues in different contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail Tomblin Murphy
- Professor and Director, WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning & Research, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Stephen Birch
- Professor, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
| | - Adrian Mackenzie
- Doctoral Trainee, WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning & Research, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Janet Rigby
- Research Officer, WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning & Research, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Joanne Langley
- Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS
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Michelo C, Zulu JM, Simuyemba M, Andrews B, Katubulushi M, Chi B, Njelesani E, Vwalika B, Bowa K, Maimbolwa M, Chipeta J, Goma F, Nzala S, Banda S, Mudenda J, Ahmed Y, Hachambwa L, Wilson C, Vermund S, Mulla Y. Strengthening and expanding the capacity of health worker education in Zambia. Pan Afr Med J 2017; 27:92. [PMID: 28819513 PMCID: PMC5554665 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2017.27.92.6860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Zambia is facing a chronic shortage of health care workers. The paper aimed at understanding how the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) program facilitated strengthening and expanding of the national capacity and quality of medical education as well as processes for retaining faculty in Zambia. METHODS Data generated through documentary review, key informant interviews and observations were analyzed using a thematic approach. RESULTS The MEPI program triggered the development of new postgraduate programs thereby increasing student enrollment. This was achieved by leveraging of existing and new partnerships with other universities and differentiating the old Master in Public Health into specialized curriculum. Furthermore, the MEPI program improved the capacity and quality of training by facilitating installation and integration of new technology such as the eGranary digital library, E-learning methods and clinical skills laboratory into the Schools. This technology enabled easy access to relevant data or information, quicker turn around of experiments and enhanced data recording, display and analysis features for experiments. The program also facilitated transforming of the academic environment into a more conducive work place through strengthening the Staff Development program and support towards research activities. These activities stimulated work motivation and interest in research by faculty. Meanwhile, these processes were inhibited by the inability to upload all courses on to Moodle as well as inadequate operating procedures and feedback mechanisms for the Moodle. CONCLUSION Expansion and improvement in training processes for health care workers requires targeted investment within medical institutions and strengthening local and international partnerships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Michelo
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Joseph Mumba Zulu
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Moses Simuyemba
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Max Katubulushi
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Benjamin Chi
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | | | | | - Kasonde Bowa
- Copperbelt University, School of Medicine, Zambia
| | - Margaret Maimbolwa
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - James Chipeta
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Fastone Goma
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Selestine Nzala
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | | | - Yusuf Ahmed
- University Teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health, Zambia
| | | | | | | | - Yakub Mulla
- University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
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Tomblin Murphy G, Birch S, MacKenzie A, Bradish S, Elliott Rose A. A synthesis of recent analyses of human resources for health requirements and labour market dynamics in high-income OECD countries. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2016; 14:59. [PMID: 27687611 PMCID: PMC5043532 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-016-0155-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recognition of the importance of effective human resources for health (HRH) planning is evident in efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Health Workforce Alliance (GHWA) to facilitate, with partner organizations, the development of a global HRH strategy for the period 2016-2030. As part of efforts to inform the development of this strategy, the aims of this study, the first of a pair, were (a) to conduct a rapid review of recent analyses of HRH requirements and labour market dynamics in high-income countries who are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and (b) to identify a methodology to determine future HRH requirements for these countries. METHODS A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature, targeted website searches, and multi-stage reference mining were conducted. To supplement these efforts, an international Advisory Group provided additional potentially relevant documents. All documents were assessed against predefined inclusion criteria and reviewed using a standardized data extraction tool. RESULTS In total, 224 documents were included in the review. The HRH supply in the included countries is generally expected to grow, but it is not clear whether that growth will be adequate to meet health care system objectives in the future. Several recurring themes regarding factors of importance in HRH planning were evident across the documents reviewed, such as aging populations and health workforces as well as changes in disease patterns, models of care delivery, scopes of practice, and technologies in health care. However, the most common HRH planning approaches found through the review do not account for most of these factors. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence base on HRH labour markets in high-income OECD countries, although large and growing, does not provide a clear picture of the expected future HRH situation in these countries. Rather than HRH planning methods and analyses being guided by explicit HRH policy questions, most of the reviewed studies appeared to derive HRH policy questions based on predetermined planning methods. Informed by the findings of this review, a methodology to estimate future HRH requirements for these countries is described.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen Birch
- McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Adrian MacKenzie
- Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 Canada
| | - Stephanie Bradish
- Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 Canada
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Furber G, Segal L, Leach M, Turnbull C, Procter N, Diamond M, Miller S, McGorry P. Preventing mental illness: closing the evidence-practice gap through workforce and services planning. BMC Health Serv Res 2015; 15:283. [PMID: 26205006 PMCID: PMC4511973 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-015-0954-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental illness is prevalent across the globe and affects multiple aspects of life. Despite advances in treatment, there is little evidence that prevalence rates of mental illness are falling. While the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancers are common in the policy dialogue and in service delivery, the prevention of mental illness remains a neglected area. There is accumulating evidence that mental illness is at least partially preventable, with increasing recognition that its antecedents are often found in infancy, childhood, adolescence and youth, creating multiple opportunities into young adulthood for prevention. Developing valid and reproducible methods for translating the evidence base in mental illness prevention into actionable policy recommendations is a crucial step in taking the prevention agenda forward. METHOD Building on an aetiological model of adult mental illness that emphasizes the importance of intervening during infancy, childhood, adolescence and youth, we adapted a workforce and service planning framework, originally applied to diabetes care, to the analysis of the workforce and service structures required for best-practice prevention of mental illness. RESULTS The resulting framework consists of 6 steps that include identifying priority risk factors, profiling the population in terms of these risk factors to identify at-risk groups, matching these at-risk groups to best-practice interventions, translation of these interventions to competencies, translation of competencies to workforce and service estimates, and finally, exploring the policy implications of these workforce and services estimates. The framework outlines the specific tasks involved in translating the evidence-base in prevention, to clearly actionable workforce, service delivery and funding recommendations. CONCLUSIONS The framework describes the means to deliver mental illness prevention that the literature indicates is achievable, and is the basis of an ongoing project to model the workforce and service structures required for mental illness prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Furber
- Health Economics and Social Policy Group, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Leonie Segal
- Health Economics and Social Policy Group, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Matthew Leach
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
| | | | - Nicholas Procter
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Mark Diamond
- Australian Regional and Remote Community Services Ltd, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Stephanie Miller
- Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Services, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Patrick McGorry
- Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Tsao HM, Sun YC, Liou DM. A rational approach to estimating the surgical demand elasticity needed to guide manpower reallocation during contagious outbreaks. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122625. [PMID: 25837596 PMCID: PMC4383619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging infectious diseases continue to pose serious threats to global public health. So far, however, few published study has addressed the need for manpower reallocation needed in hospitals when such a serious contagious outbreak occurs. AIM To quantify the demand elasticity of the major surgery types in order to guide future manpower reallocation during contagious outbreaks. MATERIALS AND METHODS Based on a nationwide research database in Taiwan, we extracted the monthly volumes of major surgery types for the period 1998-2003, which covered the SARS period, in order to carry out a time series analysis. The demand elasticity of each surgery type was then estimated by autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) analysis. RESULTS During the study period, the surgical volumes of most selected surgery types either increased or remained steady. We categorized these surgery types into low-, moderate- and high-elastic groups according to their demand elasticity. Appendectomy, 'open reduction of fracture with internal fixation' and 'free skin graft' were in the low demand elasticity group. Transurethral prostatectomy and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) were in the high demand elasticity group. The manpower of the departments carrying out the surgeries with low demand elasticity should be maintained during outbreaks. In contrast, departments in charge of surgeries mainly with high demand elasticity, like urology departments, may be in a position to have part of their staff reallocated. CONCLUSIONS Taking advantage of the demand variation during the SARS period in 2003, we adopted the concept of demand elasticity and used a time series approach to figure out an effective index of demand elasticity for various types of surgery that could be used as a rational reference to carry out manpower reallocation during contagious outbreak situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Mei Tsao
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chou Sun
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Der-Ming Liou
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Goma FM, Murphy GT, Libetwa M, MacKenzie A, Nzala SH, Mbwili-Muleya C, Rigby J, Gough A. Pilot-testing service-based planning for health care in rural Zambia. BMC Health Serv Res 2014; 14 Suppl 1:S7. [PMID: 25080074 PMCID: PMC4108876 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-s1-s7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human resources for health (HRH) planning in Zambia, as in other countries, is often done by comparing current HRH numbers with established posts, without considering whether population health needs are being met. Service-based HRH planning compares the number and type of services required by populations, given their needs, with the capacity of existing HRH to perform those services. The objective of the study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of service-based HRH planning through its adaptation in two rural Zambian districts, Gwembe and Chibombo. Methods The health conditions causing the greatest mortality and morbidity in each district were identified using administrative data and consultations with community health committees and health workers. The number and type of health care services required to address these conditions were estimated based on their population sizes, incidence and prevalence of each condition, and desired levels of service. The capacity of each district’s health workers to provide these services was estimated using a survey of health workers (n=44) that assessed the availability of their specific competencies. Results The primary health conditions identified in the two districts were HIV/AIDS in Gwembe and malaria in Chibombo. Although the competencies of the existing health workforces in these two mostly aligned with these conditions, some substantial gaps were found between the services the workforce can provide and the services their populations need. The largest gaps identified in both districts were: performing laboratory testing and interpreting results, performing diagnostic imaging and interpreting results, taking and interpreting a patient’s medical history, performing a physical examination, identifying and diagnosing the illness in question, and assessing eligibility for antiretroviral treatment. Conclusions Although active, productive, and competent, health workers in these districts are too few to meet the leading health care needs of their populations. Given the specific competencies most lacking, on-site training of existing health workers to develop these competencies may be the best approach to addressing the identified gaps. Continued use of the service-based approach in Zambia will enhance the country’s ability to align the training, management, and deployment of its health workforce to meet the needs of its people.
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Melnikov S, Itzhaki M, Kagan I. Israeli Nurses’ Intention to Report for Work in an Emergency or Disaster. J Nurs Scholarsh 2013; 46:134-42. [DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Semyon Melnikov
- Lecturer, Department of Nursing; Tel Aviv University; Israel
| | - Michal Itzhaki
- Lecturer, Department of Nursing; Tel Aviv University; Israel
| | - Ilya Kagan
- Lecturer, Department of Nursing; Tel Aviv University; Senior Coordinator; Quality and Patient Safety in Nursing; Rabin Medical Center; Clalit Health Services; Israel
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