1
|
Okpara CJ, Divers J, Winner M. Avoidance of care: how health-care affordability influenced COVID-19 disease severity and outcomes. Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:987-995. [PMID: 38497546 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwae022] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study we examined the association between payor type, a proxy for health-care affordability, and presenting COVID-19 disease severity among 2108 polymerase chain reaction-positive nonelderly patients admitted to an acute-care hospital between March 1 and June 30, 2020. The adjacent-category logit model was used to fit pairwise odds of individuals' having (1) an asymptomatic-to-mild modified sequential organ failure assessment (mSOFA) score (0-3) versus a moderate-to-severe mSOFA score (4-7) and (2) a moderate-to-severe mSOFA score (4-7) versus a critical mSOFA score (>7). Despite representing the smallest population, Medicare recipients experienced the highest in-hospital death rate (19%), a rate twice that of the privately insured. The uninsured had the highest rate of critical mSOFA score on admission and had twice the odds of presenting with a critical illness when compared with the privately insured (odds ratio = 2.08, P =.03). Because payor type was statistically related to the most severe presentations of COVID-19, we question whether policy changes affecting health-care affordability might have prevented deaths and rationing of scarce resources, such as intensive care unit beds and ventilators.
Collapse
|
2
|
Teng C, Zhu X, Nazar R, Kanwal T. Asymmetric nexus between pandemic uncertainty and public health spendings: Evidence from quantile estimation. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2024; 44:991-1006. [PMID: 37802646 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14226] [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] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, prompting governments to allocate substantial resources toward public health spendings (PHS). However, the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic have raised questions about the effectiveness and sustainability of such expenditures. This research analyzes the nonlinear link between pandemic uncertainty (PNU) and PHS in countries with highest PNU (USA, India, France, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, and China). Previous studies have employed panel data methodologies to establish consistent findings regarding the relationship between pandemics and health spendings, regardless of the fact that several countries have not autonomously recognized this connection. In contrast, this current research adopts a distinctive tool called "quantile-on-quantile," which enables the examination of time series dependency within each economy, providing both international and country-specific perspectives on the relationship between the variables. The estimations indicate that PNU leads to an increase in PHS in the vast majority of economies chosen by us, focusing on definite segments of the data distribution. Moreover, the data demonstrates that there are differences in the asymmetry between the variables across various nations. This underscores the need for policymakers to take careful deliberation when formulating policies related to health spendings and addressing the challenges posed by pandemic uncertainty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenmei Teng
- School of Politics and Public Administration, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhu
- School of Politics and Public Administration, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Raima Nazar
- Department of Economics, The Women University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Tahira Kanwal
- Department of Commerce, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bocean CG, Vărzaru AA. Assessing social protection influence on health status in the European Union. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1287608. [PMID: 38528863 PMCID: PMC10962762 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1287608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Health status and access to healthcare services are crucial factors that directly impact the well-being of individuals and societies. In the European Union (EU), social protection measures are significant in supporting citizens' health and providing access to healthcare resources. Methods This study investigates the relationship between social protection and health status in EU countries. We collected data from Eurostat on the EU member states' health status, healthcare expenditure, and social protection expenditure. The paper used structural equation modeling (SEM) and cluster analysis to analyze the complex interplay among these variables. Results Findings revealed a strong positive correlation between EU countries' social protection expenditure and healthcare status. Higher social protection spending was associated with improved access to healthcare services and facilities. Moreover, the analysis showed that countries with higher social protection expenditure tended to exhibit better overall health status indicators among their populations. Discussion The results suggest that adequate social protection expenditure positively influences health status in the European Union. By investing in robust social protection programs, governments can enhance citizens' access to healthcare services and resources, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing social protection policies to address health disparities and promote public health in the EU.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudiu George Bocean
- Department of Management, Marketing and Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
| | - Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru
- Department of Economics, Accounting and International Business, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martínez Sosa D, Ruilova M, Hoyos JA, Vargas-Alzate C, Vanegas JM. Adverse events during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador: high frequency of healthcare-associated infections and increasing hospital stay and costs. Infect Prev Pract 2023; 5:100302. [PMID: 37840847 PMCID: PMC10570948 DOI: 10.1016/j.infpip.2023.100302] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic generated high workloads given the high volume of seriously ill patients; conditions that could increase the risk of adverse events (AE). This study analyzed the frequency of AE in patients with COVID-19 and their effect on mortality, hospital stay and costs. Methods This retrospective cohort study included in-patients with COVID-19 at a single hospital between March 2020-June 2021. Exposure was the occurrence of at least one AE. Hospital stay, costs and death were considered outcomes. Clinical information and direct costs were obtained from medical and billing records. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the association measures. Results 405 patients were included, 55.8% (n=226) men, median age 56 years (IQR: 41.0-70.0) and with a history of hypertension (26.2%; n=106), diabetes mellitus (13.8%; n=56) and obesity (13.8%; n=56). The incidence of AE was 13.3% (n=54), 29 patients presented more than one AE, for a total of 70 events. Most events (74.3%; n=52) were preventable and the most frequent were healthcare-associated infections (50%; n=35), phlebitis (14.3%; n=10) and pressure ulcers (12.9%; n=9). AE prolonged hospital stay (change rate: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.26-1.95; P=0.001) and increased direct healthcare costs (change rate: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.03-1.39, P=0.019). Likewise, the risk of death was 56% higher in patients with AE. Conclusion Pandemics are unexpected events that present challenges to safe healthcare. Improving quality policies, monitoring compliance with protocols and providing ongoing education are strategies to prevent AE such as healthcare-associated infections, which increase hospital costs and stay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dayami Martínez Sosa
- School of Health Sciences, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia
- Hospital Vozandes, Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | | | | - Johanna M. Vanegas
- School of Health Sciences, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chang W, Zhou X, Nazar R, Ali S. Does pandemic uncertainty spur public health expenditures? Evidence from European Union economies. Nurs Health Sci 2023; 25:434-444. [PMID: 37565598 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.13036] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
This research intends to evaluate the asymmetric relationship between pandemic uncertainty and public health expenditures in selected European Union nations (Germany, France, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Finland, and Portugal). Earlier studies used panel data methodologies to get consistent results about the pandemic-health expenditures nexus, irrespective of the reality that numerous economies did not identify such a link independently. By contrast, the present research utilizes a unique technique, quantile-on-quantile, that explores time-series dependency in every nation by offering worldwide yet country-related insight into the linkage between the variables. Estimations reveal that pandemic uncertainty increases public health expenditures in most of the selected economies at specified quantiles of data. Additionally, the data indicate that the level of asymmetries among our variables varies by country, stressing the significance of policymakers paying special attention while executing policies concerning health expenditures and pandemic uncertainty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Chang
- Institute of Contemporary Marxism, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Xinjian Zhou
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Raima Nazar
- Department of Economics, The Women University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Sajid Ali
- School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Moolla I, Hiilamo H. Health system characteristics and COVID-19 performance in high-income countries. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:244. [PMID: 36915154 PMCID: PMC10009850 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09206-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken everyday life causing morbidity and mortality across the globe. While each country has been hit by the pandemic, individual countries have had different infection and health trajectories. Of all welfare state institutions, healthcare has faced the most immense pressure due to the pandemic and hence, we take a comparative perspective to study COVID-19 related health system performance. We study the way in which health system characteristics were associated with COVID-19 excess mortality and case fatality rates before Omicron variant. METHODS This study analyses the health system performance during the pandemic in 43 OECD countries and selected non-member economies through three healthcare systems dimensions: (1) healthcare finance, (2) healthcare provision, (3) healthcare performance and health outcomes. Health system characteristics-related data is collected from the Global Health Observatory data repository, the COVID-19 related health outcome indicators from the Our World in Data statistics database, and the country characteristics from the World Bank Open Data and the OECD statistics databases. RESULTS We find that the COVID-19 excess mortality and case fatality rates were systematically associated with healthcare system financing and organizational structures, as well as performance regarding other health outcomes besides COVID-19 health outcomes. CONCLUSION Investments in public health systems in terms of overall financing, health workforce and facilities are instrumental in reducing COVID-19 related mortality. Countries aiming at improving their pandemic preparedness may develop health systems by strengthening their public health systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iris Moolla
- Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Heikki Hiilamo
- Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
While most children with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) experience mild illness, some are vulnerable to severe disease and develop long-term complications. Children with disabilities, those from lower-income homes, and those from racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to be hospitalized and to have poor outcomes following an infection. For many of these same children, a wide range of social, economic, and environmental disadvantages have made it more difficult for them to access COVID-19 vaccines. Ensuring vaccine equity in children and decreasing health disparities promotes the common good and serves society as a whole. In this article, we discuss how the pandemic has exposed long-standing injustices in historically marginalized groups and provide a summary of the research describing the disparities associated with COVID-19 infection, severity, and vaccine uptake. Last, we outline several strategies for addressing some of the issues that can give rise to vaccine inequity in the pediatric population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R Oliveira
- Corresponding Author: Carlos R. Oliveira, M.D., Ph.D., 15 York Street, PO Box 208064, New Haven, CT 06520-8064, USA. E-mail:
| | - Kristen A Feemster
- Vaccine Education Center, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Erlinda R Ulloa
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Health of Orange County, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 Serology Testing and Pandemic Anxiety: A Study of Pediatric Healthcare Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159562. [PMID: 35954913 PMCID: PMC9368345 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Limited access to SARS-CoV-2 testing has been identified as a potential source of anxiety among healthcare workers (HCWs), but the impact of repeated testing on pandemic-related anxiety in pediatric HCWs has not been examined. We sought to understand the impact of repeated SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing on pediatric HCWs’ COVID-19 anxiety. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was conducted between April and July 2020. Participants, 362 pediatric HCWs, underwent rapid SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing either every 96 h or weekly and were asked to rate their COVID-19 anxiety on a visual analog scale. Changes in self-reported anxiety from the study baseline were calculated for each testing day response. Bivariate analyses, repeated measures, and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine demographics associated with changes in anxiety. Results: Baseline COVID-19 anxiety was significantly higher in HCWs with less than 10 years of experience (Z = −2.63, p = 0.009), in females compared to males (Z = −3.66 p < 0.001), and in nurses compared to other HCWs (F (3,302) = 6.04, p = 0.003). After excluding participants who received a positive test result, repeated measures analyses indicated that anxiety decreased over time (F (5,835) = 3.14, p = 0.008). Of the HCWs who reported decreased anxiety, 57 (29.8%) had a clinically meaningful decrease (≥30%) and Emergency Department (ED) HCWs were 1.97 times more likely to report a clinically meaningful decrease in anxiety (X2 (1) = 5.05, p = 0.025). Conclusions: The results suggest that repeated SARS-CoV-2 antibody serology testing is associated with decreased COVID-19 anxiety in HCWs. Routine screening for the disease may be a helpful strategy in attenuating pandemic-related anxiety in pediatric HCWs.
Collapse
|
9
|
Simon ME, Reuter ZC, Fabricius MM, Hitchcock NM, Pierce RP. Diabetes Control in a Student-Run Free Clinic During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Community Health 2022; 47:835-840. [PMID: 35788471 PMCID: PMC9255462 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-022-01117-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Student run free health clinics (SRFCs) provide medical care to vulnerable populations in communities throughout the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the delivery of healthcare services and demanded a rapid adjustment in care delivery methods in both resource-rich and resource-poor settings. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the management of chronic disease, specifically diabetes. Patients with diabetes who received care continuously throughout the pre-pandemic (face-to-face) and pandemic (telehealth) study periods at MedZou Community Health Center, a SRFC located in central Missouri, were evaluated. This sample of patients (n = 29) was evaluated on six quality measures including annual eye exams, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, chronic kidney disease monitoring, flu vaccination, and statin therapy. Overall diabetes care, as measured by the number of quality measures met per patient, decreased by 0.37 after the onset of the pandemic. The median COVID-era ranks were not statistically significantly different than the pre-pandemic ranks (z = 1.65, P = 0.099). Fewer patients received an influenza vaccination the year following the onset of the pandemic (10.3%) compared to the year before the pandemic (37.9%; difference in proportions 0.276, 95% CI 0.079, 0.473; p = 0.005). No other individual measures of diabetes care statistically differed significantly in the year after the pandemic began. Twenty-six (90%) patients received diabetes care using telehealth after the onset of the pandemic. Diabetes care using telehealth in a SRFC may be an acceptable alternative model when face-to-face visits are not feasible. Observed decreases in diabetes-related clinical quality measure performance warrant further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline E Simon
- University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, 65212, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Zachary C Reuter
- University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, 65212, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Michela M Fabricius
- University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, 65212, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Nicole M Hitchcock
- University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, 65212, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert P Pierce
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Borghi J, Brown GW. Taking Systems Thinking to the Global Level: Using the WHO Building Blocks to Describe and Appraise the Global Health System in Relation to COVID-19. GLOBAL POLICY 2022; 13:193-207. [PMID: 35601655 PMCID: PMC9111126 DOI: 10.1111/1758-5899.13081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Adequately preparing for and containing global shocks, such as COVID-19, is a key challenge facing health systems globally. COVID-19 highlights that health systems are multilevel systems, a continuum from local to global. Goals and monitoring indicators have been key to strengthening national health systems but are missing at the supranational level. A framework to strengthen the global system-the global health actors and the governance, finance, and delivery arrangements within which they operate-is urgently needed. In this article, we illustrate how the World Health Organization Building Blocks framework, which has been used to monitor the performance of national health systems, can be applied to describe and appraise the global health system and its response to COVID-19, and identify potential reforms. Key weaknesses in the global response included: fragmented and voluntary financing; non-transparent pricing of medicines and supplies, poor quality standards, and inequities in procurement and distribution; and weak leadership and governance. We also identify positive achievements and identify potential reforms of the global health system for greater resilience to future shocks. We discuss the limitations of the Building Blocks framework and future research directions and reflect on political economy challenges to reform.
Collapse
|
11
|
The effect of COVID-19 on public hospital revenues in Iran: An interrupted time-series analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266343. [PMID: 35358279 PMCID: PMC8970352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The “Coronavirus Disease 2019” (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major challenge for all healthcare systems worldwide, and besides generating a high toll of deaths, it has caused economic losses. Hospitals have played a key role in providing services to patients and the volume of hospital activities has been refocused on COVID-19 patients. Other activities have been limited/repurposed or even suspended and hospitals have been operating with reduced capacity. With the decrease in non-COVID-19 activities, their financial system and sustainability have been threatened, with hospitals facing shortage of financial resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the revenues of public hospitals in Lorestan province in western Iran, as a case study. Method In this quasi-experimental study, we conducted the interrupted time series analysis to evaluate COVID-19 induced changes in monthly revenues of 18 public hospitals, from April 2018 to August 2021, in Lorestan, Iran. In doing so, public hospitals report their earnings to the University of Medical Sciences monthly; then, we collected this data through the finance office. Results Due to COVID-19, the revenues of public hospitals experienced an average monthly decrease of $172,636 thousand (P-value = 0.01232). For about 13 months, the trend of declining hospital revenues continued. However, after February 2021, a relatively stable increase could be observed, with patient admission and elective surgeries restrictions being lifted. The average monthly income of hospitals increased by $83,574 thousand. Conclusion COVID-19 has reduced the revenues of public hospitals, which have faced many problems due to the high costs they have incurred. During the crisis, lack of adequate fundings can damage healthcare service delivery, and policymakers should allocate resources to prevent potential shocks.
Collapse
|
12
|
Antohi VM, Ionescu RV, Zlati ML, Mirica C, Cristache N. Approaches to Health Efficiency across the European Space through the Lens of the Health Budget Effort. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:3063. [PMID: 35270757 PMCID: PMC8910186 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19053063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, financial resources allocated to the health system have been refocused according to priority 0: fighting the pandemic. The main objective of this research is to identify the vulnerabilities affecting the health budget effort in the EU and in the Member States during the health crisis period. The analysis takes into account relevant statistical indicators both in terms of financial allocation to health and expenditure on health protection of the population in the Member States, with the effect being tracked even during the pandemic period. The novelty of the study is the identification of viable directions of intervention based on the structural determination of expenditures related to measures to combat the pandemic and making proposals for changes in public policies based on the determination of the effectiveness of budget allocations in health in relation to the proposed purpose. The main outcome of the study is the identification of the vulnerabilities and the projection of measures to mitigate them in the medium and long term.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Marian Antohi
- Department of Business Administration, Dunarea de Jos University, 800008 Galati, Romania or (M.L.Z.); (C.M.); (N.C.)
- Departament of Finance, Accounting and Economic Theory, Transylvania University, 500036 Brasov, Romania
| | - Romeo Victor Ionescu
- Department of Administrative Sciences and Regional Studies, Dunarea de Jos University, 800201 Galati, Romania;
| | - Monica Laura Zlati
- Department of Business Administration, Dunarea de Jos University, 800008 Galati, Romania or (M.L.Z.); (C.M.); (N.C.)
- Department of Accounting, Audit and Finance, Stefan cel Mare University, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Cristian Mirica
- Department of Business Administration, Dunarea de Jos University, 800008 Galati, Romania or (M.L.Z.); (C.M.); (N.C.)
| | - Nicoleta Cristache
- Department of Business Administration, Dunarea de Jos University, 800008 Galati, Romania or (M.L.Z.); (C.M.); (N.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Parker G, Hutti E. Corporal and Cognizant Barriers to Voting: the Impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 Election Season in St. Louis. JOURNAL OF POLICY PRACTICE AND RESEARCH 2022. [PMCID: PMC8760110 DOI: 10.1007/s42972-021-00046-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In 2020, two key elections in St. Louis, Missouri, took place in the midst of the intertwined pandemics of COVID-19 and racialized violence. Local community leaders in St. Louis emphasized a need to mobilize voters, particularly in communities of color, to engage in the elections in August and November 2020 as a tool for advancing health and racial equity. COVID-19 created a new set of barriers to voting. This study documents two typologies of challenges that organizers faced in their efforts to mobilize voters and increase participation in the election. The first is corporal — the use of one’s physical body and the risk within. The second is cognizant — the regulatory proficiency needed to navigate the shifting rules of the voting process. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of twenty-eight mobilizers working within low-income, poverty-impacted neighborhoods in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, which disproportionately consist of residents of color. Findings suggest COVID-19 created additional unforeseen barriers to voting. Corporal: Local ordinances that mandated limited in person gatherings and social distancing were serious obstacles to traditional voter mobilization efforts and created trepidation about in-person voting for fear of being exposed to the virus. Cognizant: The state of Missouri in an effort to address some of the public health concerns created additional rules for absentee or mail-in voting for limited populations with a complicated set of rules that confused mobilizers and voters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gary Parker
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Clark-Fox Policy Institute Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus, Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130 USA
| | - Ellen Hutti
- Clark-Fox Policy Institute Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus, Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130 USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Coccia M. High health expenditures and low exposure of population to air pollution as critical factors that can reduce fatality rate in COVID-19 pandemic crisis: a global analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 199:111339. [PMID: 34029545 PMCID: PMC8139437 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the problems hardly clarified in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic crisis is to identify factors associated with a lower mortality of COVID-19 between countries to design strategies to cope with future pandemics in society. The study here confronts this problem by developing a global analysis based on more than 160 countries. This paper proposes that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, healthcare spending and air pollution of nations are critical factors associated with fatality rate of COVID-19. The statistical evidence seems in general to support that countries with a low average COVID-19 fatality rate have high expenditures in health sector >7.5% of GDP, high health expenditures per capita >$2,300 and a lower exposure of population to days exceeding safe levels of particulate matter (PM2.5). Another relevant finding here is that these countries have lower case fatality rates (CFRs) of COVID-19, regardless a higher percentage of population aged more than 65 years. Overall, then, this study finds that an effective and proactive strategy to reduce the negative impact of future pandemics, driven by novel viral agents, has to be based on a planning of enhancement of healthcare sector and of environmental sustainability that can reduce fatality rate of infectious diseases in society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Coccia
- CNR, National Research Council of Italy, Via Real Collegio, N. 30, Collegio Carlo Alberto, 10024, Moncalieri, TO, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Buzelli ML, Boyce T. The Privatization of the Italian National Health System and its Impact on Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: The COVID-19 Case. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES 2021; 51:501-508. [PMID: 34125625 DOI: 10.1177/00207314211024900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Hospitals play a critical role in providing essential care during emergencies; however, this essential care can overwhelm the functional capacity of health systems. In Italy, substantial cuts in funding have drastically reduced the resources of the National Health Service (NHS) and contributed to the expansion of the private health sector which, unlike the public health system, does not have the capacity to deal with a health emergency such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this article is to show how the privatization of the NHS contributed to making Italy more vulnerable and unprepared to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The available capacity and resources in the public and private emergency services systems in Italy are compared, including a focus on the numbers of hospital staff, hospitals, and hospital beds. The reduced funding and subsequent shortfalls in services in the NHS are reasons why extreme measures were needed to increase these resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. A public NHS in Italy would be better prepared for future health emergencies. The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic can help to inform future health systems strategies, to halt the current financial decline and performance loss of national health systems, and to enable better preparation for future health emergencies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tammy Boyce
- 57341Cardiff University, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff, UK
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Glance LG, Thirukumaran CP, Dick AW. The Unequal Burden of COVID-19 Deaths in Counties With High Proportions of Black and Hispanic Residents. Med Care 2021; 59:470-476. [PMID: 33734195 PMCID: PMC8132563 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the current burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths in vulnerable populations will help inform efforts by policymakers to address disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the association between COVID-19 deaths and the county-level proportions of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic residents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective study using COVID-19 mortality data from USA Facts linked to data from the US Census Bureau, the Health Resources & Services Administration Area Health Resources file, and the US Census Bureau. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the association between the total county COVID-19 deaths during consecutive 30-day intervals and the proportion of non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanic residents after adjusting for resident demographics, comorbidity burden, rurality, social determinants of health, and health care resources. RESULTS In April, counties (n=179) with >40% Blacks had 6-fold higher death rates than counties (n=1521) with <2% Blacks [incident rate ratio (IRR)=6.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.29-13.2, P<0.001]. These counties had higher death rates until October, but were no different than referent counties in November. In April, death rates in counties with >40% Hispanic residents were similar to death rates in counties with <2% Hispanic residents. Death rates in these counties peaked in August (IRR=3.14, 95% CI: 1.69-5.82, P<0.001) but were also no different than referent counties in November. These effects were robust after adjusting for county-level characteristics. Before August, death rates differed little by insurance status, but since then, counties with >15% uninsurance rates had up to 2-fold higher mortality rates (IRR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.19-3.27, P<0.001) than counties with <5% uninsurance rates. CONCLUSION Counties with high concentrations of non-Hispanic Blacks were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 throughout most of the pandemic, but other social determinants of health such as health insurance are now playing a more prominent role than race and ethnicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurent G. Glance
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY
- RAND Health, RAND, Boston, MA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Copeland D. Psychiatric nurses' role in the holocaust and current implications. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2021; 28:488-493. [PMID: 32920966 DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Darcy Copeland
- University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA.,St Anthony Hospital, Centura Health, Lakewood, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yousman LC, Khunte A, Hsiang W, Jain S, Forman H, Wiznia D. Urgent care center wait times increase for COVID-19 results in August 2020, with rapid testing availability limited. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:318. [PMID: 33832506 PMCID: PMC8027963 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06338-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a response to the pandemic, urgent care centers (UCCs) have gained a critical role as a common location for COVID-19 testing. We sought to characterize the changes in testing accessibility at UCCs between March and August 2020 on the basis of testing availability (including rapid antigen testing), wait time for test results, cost of visits, and cost of tests. METHODS Data were collected using a secret shopper methodology. Researchers contacted 250 UCCs in 10 states. Investigators used a standardized script to survey centers on their COVID-19 testing availability and policies. UCCs were initially contacted in March and re-called in August. T-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to identify differences between March and August data and differences by center classification. RESULTS Our results indicate that both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to detect COVID-19 genetic material and rapid antigen COVID-19 tests have increased in availability. However, wait times for PCR test results have significantly increased to an average of 5.79 days. Additionally, a high proportion of UCCs continue to charge for tests and visits and no significant decrease was found in the proportion of UCCs that charge for COVID-19 testing from March to August. Further, no state reported a majority of UCCs with rapid testing available, indicating an overall lack of rapid testing. CONCLUSIONS From March to August, COVID-19 testing availability gradually improved. However, many barriers lie in access to COVID-19 testing, including testing costs, visit costs, and overall lack of availability of rapid testing in the majority of UCCs. Despite the passage of the CARES Act, these results suggest that there is room for additional policy to improve accessibility to testing, specifically rapid testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Howard Forman
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, New Haven, USA
| | - Daniel Wiznia
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, 800 Howard Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gaffney AW, Hawks L, Bor D, White AC, Woolhandler S, McCormick D, Himmelstein DU. National Trends and Disparities in Health Care Access and Coverage Among Adults With Asthma and COPD: 1997-2018. Chest 2021; 159:2173-2182. [PMID: 33497651 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial and ethnic as well as economic disparities in access to care among persons with asthma and COPD have been described, but long-term access trends are unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION Have health coverage and access to care and medications among adults with airways disease improved, and have disparities narrowed? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Using the 1997 through 2018 National Health Interview Survey, we examined time trends in health coverage and the affordability of medical care and prescription drugs for adults with asthma and COPD, overall and by income and by race and ethnicity. We performed multivariate linear probability regressions comparing coverage and access in 2018 with that in 1997. RESULTS Our sample included 76,843 adults with asthma and 30,548 adults with COPD. Among adults with asthma, lack of insurance rose in the first decade of the twenty-first century, peaking with the Great Recession, but fell after implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). From 1997 through 2018, the uninsured rate among adults with asthma decreased from 19.4% to 9.6% (adjusted 9.27 percentage points; 95% CI, 7.1%-11.5%). However, the proportions delaying or foregoing medical care because of cost or going without medications did not improve. Racial and ethnic as well as economic disparities present in 1997 persisted over the study period. Trends and disparities among those with COPD were similar, although the proportion going without needed medications worsened, rising by an adjusted 7.8 percentage points. INTERPRETATION Coverage losses among persons with airways disease in the first decade of the twenty-first century were reversed by the ACA, but neither care affordability nor disparities improved. Further reform is needed to close these gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam W Gaffney
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
| | - Laura Hawks
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - David Bor
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Alexander C White
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA; Tufts Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Steffie Woolhandler
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; City University of New York at Hunter College, New York, NY
| | - Danny McCormick
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - David U Himmelstein
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; City University of New York at Hunter College, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lorettu L, Dessanti A, Nivoli A, Bellizzi S. The COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy and the World: To Be or Not to Be? That Is the Real Problem. Health Secur 2020; 18:499-501. [PMID: 32910694 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2020.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Lorettu
- Liliana Lorettu, MD, is a Psychiatrist and Chief, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; and Alessandra Nivoli, MD, is a Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; both in the Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Antonio Dessanti, MD, is a Professor of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical School of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Saverio Bellizzi, MD, MSc, PhD, is a Consulting Medical Epidemiologist, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Dessanti
- Liliana Lorettu, MD, is a Psychiatrist and Chief, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; and Alessandra Nivoli, MD, is a Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; both in the Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Antonio Dessanti, MD, is a Professor of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical School of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Saverio Bellizzi, MD, MSc, PhD, is a Consulting Medical Epidemiologist, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Nivoli
- Liliana Lorettu, MD, is a Psychiatrist and Chief, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; and Alessandra Nivoli, MD, is a Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; both in the Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Antonio Dessanti, MD, is a Professor of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical School of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Saverio Bellizzi, MD, MSc, PhD, is a Consulting Medical Epidemiologist, Sassari, Italy
| | - Saverio Bellizzi
- Liliana Lorettu, MD, is a Psychiatrist and Chief, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; and Alessandra Nivoli, MD, is a Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Clinic, and Professor of Psychiatry; both in the Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Antonio Dessanti, MD, is a Professor of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical School of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Saverio Bellizzi, MD, MSc, PhD, is a Consulting Medical Epidemiologist, Sassari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Coccia M. Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis to Reduce Mortality of Future Infectious Diseases in Society. SSRN ELECTRONIC JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3756354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
|