1
|
Plüss-Suard C, Mueller Y, Plate A, Senn O, Kronenberg A. Re: 'Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing in high-prescribing primary care physicians in Switzerland' by Aghlmandi et al. Clin Microbiol Infect 2024; 30:964-966. [PMID: 38467245 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Plüss-Suard
- Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance (ANRESIS), Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Yolanda Mueller
- Department of Family Medicine, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Plate
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Senn
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Kronenberg
- Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance (ANRESIS), Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schwarzer FM, Probst-Hensch N, Kwiatkowski M, Höglinger M. Long-term development of loneliness in older people and associations with stringency of COVID-19 measures: an observational cohort study. Age Ageing 2024; 53:afae069. [PMID: 38600849 PMCID: PMC11007266 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae069] [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: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most longitudinal studies found heightened feelings of loneliness in older people in spring 2020 compared to times before the pandemic. However, longer-term effects are more disputed. We, therefore, investigated changes in loneliness in older people throughout the first 21 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland and examined the association between the stringency of COVID-19 measures and feelings of loneliness. METHODS We assessed loneliness (3-item University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) loneliness scale) in a nationally representative longitudinal observational online survey. Older people (65-79 years) were surveyed between March 2020 and December 2021. Proportions of people feeling lonely (UCLA loneliness scale >6) were compared in two stringent phases ('lockdown', Oxford University stringency index ≥55) and two less restricted phases. Additionally, we explored the situation of potentially more susceptible subgroups (living alone, women, chronic and mental diseases, low educational level and low income). RESULTS Phases with stringent measures were associated with higher levels of loneliness in older people. People living alone, women, people with noncommunicable or mental disease diagnoses and lower income show consistently higher levels of loneliness. However, the differences are not accentuated in phases with more stringent measures. We found little differences between subgroups with varying educational levels. CONCLUSIONS Even in a country with relatively less stringent COVID-19 measures like Switzerland, an increase in the proportion of older people that feel lonely could be found during phases with more stringent COVID-19 measures. Lockdown phases should, therefore, be accompanied by evidence-based interventions to relieve loneliness to avoid adverse short- and long-term consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flurina Meier Schwarzer
- Winterthur Institute of Health Economics, School of Management and Law, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur 8401, Switzerland
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel 4003, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel 4003, Switzerland
| | - Marek Kwiatkowski
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil 4123, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel 4003, Switzerland
| | - Marc Höglinger
- Winterthur Institute of Health Economics, School of Management and Law, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur 8401, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jaks R, Guggiari E, De Gani SM, Nicca D. Patients' Perspectives on the Use of a Newly Developed "Patients' Guide for Doctor's Visit": DocVISITguide. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6414. [PMID: 37510646 PMCID: PMC10379287 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
During doctor's visits, fundamental decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis and therapy are taken. However, consultations often take place within a limited time frame and are characterized by an asymmetric interaction. Therefore, patients' questions can remain unanswered and concerns unspoken. A "Patients' Guide for Doctor's Visit" (DocVISITguide) was developed to prepare patients for their visits, supporting them to take an active role in the communication and leave the consultation well-informed. This paper describes the development of the DocVISITguide and its first small-scale evaluation based on a sequential explanatory mixed methods design from the patients' perspective. For this purpose, a small sample of patients completed a pre- and post-questionnaire, and two in-depth interviews were conducted. Most participants found the DocVISITguide easy to understand. The guide helped them to take a closer look at their own health situation and be better prepared for the visit. More than three-quarters (82%) of the participants would probably use the guide again, and all (100%) would recommend it to family and friends. However, some patients felt unsure about using the guide within the consultation and showing it to their physician. To counteract this uncertainty, physicians should be actively involved in the use of such guides in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Jaks
- Careum Center for Health Literacy, Careum Foundation, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elena Guggiari
- Careum Center for Health Literacy, Careum Foundation, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
- Careum School of Health, Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Saskia Maria De Gani
- Careum Center for Health Literacy, Careum Foundation, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
- Careum School of Health, Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dunja Nicca
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rachamin Y, Jäger L, Schweighoffer R, Signorell A, Bähler C, Huber CA, Blozik E, Seifritz E, Grischott T, Senn O. The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Healthcare Utilization in Switzerland Was Strongest Among Young Females-Retrospective Study in 2018-2020. Int J Public Health 2023; 68:1605839. [PMID: 37273771 PMCID: PMC10235482 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To provide a thorough assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare in Switzerland. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using nationwide hospital data (n > 8 million) and claims data from a large Swiss health insurer (n > 1 million) in 2018-2020. Incidence proportions of different types of psychiatric inpatient admissions, psychiatric consultations, and psychotropic medication claims were analyzed using interrupted time series models for the general population and for the vulnerable subgroup of young people. Results: Inpatient psychiatric admissions in the general population decreased by 16.2% (95% confidence interval: -19.2% to -13.2%) during the first and by 3.9% (-6.7% to -0.2%) during the second pandemic shutdown, whereas outpatient mental healthcare utilization was not substantially affected. We observed distinct patterns for young people, most strikingly, an increase in mental healthcare utilization among females aged <20 years. Conclusion: Mental healthcare provision for the majority of the population was largely maintained, but special attention should be paid to young people. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring mental healthcare utilization among different populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yael Rachamin
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Campus Stiftung Lindenhof Bern (SLB), Bern, Switzerland
| | - Levy Jäger
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reka Schweighoffer
- Institute for Clinical Research, Department of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andri Signorell
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Bähler
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carola A. Huber
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Blozik
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- SWICA Health Services Research, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Grischott
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Senn
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mazzonna F, Gatti N. Cultural differences, intergenerational contacts, and the spread of Covid-19: Evidence from Swiss language regions. POPULATION STUDIES 2023; 77:111-121. [PMID: 36692393 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2022.2155691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic displayed large variations between and within countries in the speed of contagion and in observed fatality rates. This work sheds light on the role of social ties in old age, exploiting the high cultural variation between German-speaking and Latin- (French- and Italian-) speaking regions in Switzerland. We show that older adults in Latin-speaking regions exhibit a larger social network and more intergenerational contacts than their German-speaking counterparts. These differences are consistent with the heterogeneous incidence of the disease across language regions. Even controlling for several determinants of the contagion, we find large differences in the incidence of Covid-19 among older adults, in both the first and second waves of the pandemic. These findings also hold when exploiting language variations within the three Swiss bilingual cantons. We rule out the possibility that our results are driven by differences in canton-specific policies or in citizens' compliance with containment measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Mazzonna
- Università della Svizzera italiana.,IZA Institute of Labor Economics
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Berg-Beckhoff G, Bask M, Jervelund SS, Guldager JD, Quickfall A, Rabiee Khan F, Oddsson G, van der Wel KA, Sarasjärvi KK, Olafsdottir S, Buffel V, Skalická V, Van de Velde S. Political stringency, infection rates, and higher education students' adherence to government measures in the Nordic countries and the UK during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. Prev Med 2022; 164:107245. [PMID: 36075491 PMCID: PMC9444587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Understanding predictors of adherence to governmental measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 is fundamental to guide health communication. This study examined whether political stringency and infection rates during the first wave of the pandemic were associated with higher education students' adherence to COVID-19 government measures in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden) and the United Kingdom. Both individual- and country-level data were used in present study. An international cross-sectional subsample (n = 10,345) of higher-education students was conducted in May-June 2020 to collect individual-level information on socio-demographics, study information, living arrangements, health behaviors, stress, and COVID-19-related concerns, including adherence to government measures. Country-level data on political stringency from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker and national infection rates were added to individual-level data. Multiple linear regression analyses stratified by country were conducted. Around 66% of students reported adhering to government measures, with the highest adherence in the UK (73%) followed by Iceland (72%), Denmark (69%), Norway (67%), Finland (64%) and Sweden (49%). Main predictors for higher adherence were older age, being female and being worried about getting infected with COVID-19 (individual-level), an increase in number of days since lockdown, political stringency, and information about COVID-19 mortality rates (country-level). However, incidence rate was an inconsistent predictor, which may be explained by imperfect data quality during the onset of the pandemic. We conclude that shorter lockdown periods and political stringency are associated with adherence to government measures among higher education students at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Berg-Beckhoff
- Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; University hospital of the University of Southern Denmark, Hospital South West Jutland, Denmark.
| | - M Bask
- Uppsala University, Department of Sociology, Box 624, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S S Jervelund
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Public Health, Section for Health Services Research, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - J D Guldager
- Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy, University College South Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - A Quickfall
- Primary and Early Years Initial Teacher Education, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK
| | - F Rabiee Khan
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education & life sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
| | - G Oddsson
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Akureyri, Borgir v/Norðurslóð, Akureyri 600, Iceland
| | - K A van der Wel
- Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - K K Sarasjärvi
- University of Helsinki, Doctoral Programme in Population Health, P.O. Box 4, Yliopistonkatu 3, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Olafsdottir
- Department of Sociology, University of Iceland, Oddi v/Sturlugötu, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - V Buffel
- Centre for Population, Family, and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V Skalická
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - S Van de Velde
- Centre for Population, Family, and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sant Fruchtman C, Fischer FB, Monzón Llamas L, Tavakkoli M, Cobos Muñoz D, Antillon M. Did COVID-19 Policies Have the Same Effect on COVID-19 Incidence Among Women and Men? Evidence From Spain and Switzerland. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1604994. [PMID: 36204009 PMCID: PMC9530041 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate how COVID-19 prevention policies influenced the COVID-19 incidence in men and women. Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study using the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and the Spanish Ministry of Health surveillance data for February 2020–June 2021 to explore sex and age differences in COVID-19 cases and testing. The female-male incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated for each week of the pandemic. We complemented our analysis with qualitative information on relevant containment measures in each country. Results: In Switzerland and in Spain, there was an excess of cases in women of 20–59 years old and 80+. This excess of cases was significant during the waves of the pandemic in both countries. In Switzerland, the biggest difference was observed for the age group 20–29, reaching an excess of 94% of cases compared to men during the first wave of COVID-19 (March–May 2020). The excess of cases in women was greater in Spain than in Switzerland, where it reached 159% for women aged 20–29 during the first wave (March–June 2020). In both countries, the age groups 60–79 had a significant excess of cases in men during the pandemic. Conclusion: COVID-19 public health policies affect men and women in different ways. Our findings highlight the importance of gender-sensitive responses to address a public health crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Sant Fruchtman
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Carmen Sant Fruchtman, ; Marina Antillon,
| | - Fabienne Beatrice Fischer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Maryam Tavakkoli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Cobos Muñoz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marina Antillon
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Carmen Sant Fruchtman, ; Marina Antillon,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Michel J, Rehsmann J, Mettler A, Starvaggi C, Travaglini N, Aebi C, Keitel K, Sauter TC. Public health communication: Attitudes, experiences, and lessons learned from users of a COVID-19 digital triage tool for children. Front Public Health 2022; 10:901125. [PMID: 35979470 PMCID: PMC9376382 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.901125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The pandemic has made public health communication even more daunting because acceptance and implementation of official guidelines and recommendations hinge on this. The situation becomes even more precarious when children are involved. Our child-specific COVID-19 online forward triage tool (OFTT) revealed some of the public health communication challenges. We aimed to explore attitudes, experiences, and challenges faced by OFTT users and their families, in regard to public health recommendations. Methods We selected key informants (n = 20) from a population of parents, teachers, guardians, as well as doctors who had used the child-specific COVID-19 OFTT and had consented to a further study. Videos rather than face-face interviews were held. Convenience and quota sampling were performed to include a variety of key informants. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for themes. Results Several themes emerged, namely; (1) definition and expectations of high-risk persons, (2) quarantine instructions and challenges, (3) blurred division of responsibility between authorities and parents, (4) a novel condition and the evolution of knowledge, (5) definition and implications of socioeconomic status, (6) new normal and societal divisions, and (7) the interconnectedness of these factors-systems thinking. Conclusion As the virus is evolving and circumstances are changing rapidly, the communication of public health to the different interest groups becomes, both an art and science, even more so when using a new technological communication channel: an OFTT. A myriad of interconnected factors seems to influence attitudes toward public health recommendations, which calls for systems thinking in public health communication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janet Michel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Emergency Telemedicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Janet Michel
| | - Julia Rehsmann
- School of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Annette Mettler
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Emergency Telemedicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carl Starvaggi
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Travaglini
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Emergency Telemedicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Aebi
- Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kristina Keitel
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas C. Sauter
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Emergency Telemedicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Janousch C, Anyan F, Morote R, Hjemdal O. Resilience patterns of Swiss adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a latent transition analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE AND YOUTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2022.2091938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Janousch
- Institute for Research and Development, School of Education, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Brugg-Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Frederick Anyan
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Roxanna Morote
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Peru, San Miguel, Peru
| | - Odin Hjemdal
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|