1
|
Sankoda A, Nagae Y, Waki K, Sze WT, Oba K, Mieno M, Nangaku M, Yamauchi T, Ohe K. Glycemic Control, Renal Progression, and Use of Telemedicine Phone Consultations Among Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Cohort Study. JMIR Diabetes 2023; 8:e42607. [PMID: 37315193 DOI: 10.2196/42607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced or delayed medical follow-ups have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may lead to worsening clinical outcomes for patients with diabetes. The Japanese government granted special permission for medical institutions to use telephone consultations and other remote communication modes during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate changes in the frequency of outpatient consultations, glycemic control, and renal function among patients with type 2 diabetes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This is a retrospective single-cohort study conducted in Tokyo, Japan, analyzing results for 3035 patients who visited the hospital regularly. We compared the frequency of outpatient consultations attended (both in person and via telemedicine phone consultation), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the 6 months from April 2020 to September 2020 (ie, during the COVID-19 pandemic) with those during the same period of the previous year, 2019, using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. We conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors related to the changes in glycemic control and eGFR. We also compared the changes in HbA1c and eGFR from 2019 to 2020 among telemedicine users and telemedicine nonusers using difference-in-differences design. RESULTS The overall median number of outpatient consultations attended decreased significantly from 3 (IQR 2-3) in 2019 to 2 (IQR 2-3) in 2020 (P<.001). Median HbA1c levels deteriorated, though not to a clinically significant degree (6.90%, IQR 6.47%-7.39% vs 6.95%, IQR 6.47%-7.40%; P<.001). The decline in median eGFR was greater during the year 2019-2020 compared to the year 2018-2019 (-0.9 vs -0.5 mL/min/1.73 m2; P=.01). Changes in HbA1c and eGFR did not differ between patients who used telemedicine phone consultations and those who did not. Age and HbA1c level before the pandemic were positive predictors of worsening glycemic control during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the number of outpatient consultations attended was identified as a negative predictor of worsening glycemic control during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reduced attendance of outpatient consultations among patients with type 2 diabetes, and these patients also experienced deterioration in kidney function. Difference in consultation modality (in person or by phone) did not affect glycemic control and renal progression of the patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Sankoda
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yugo Nagae
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kayo Waki
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wei Thing Sze
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Oba
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makiko Mieno
- Department of Medical Informatics, Center for Information, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Masaomi Nangaku
- Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshimasa Yamauchi
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ohe
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dehghani Tafti A, Fatehpanah A, Salmani I, Bahrami MA, Tavangar H, Fallahzadeh H, Tehrani AA, Bahariniya S, Tehrani GA. COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the continuity of care for chronic patients: evidence from a cross-sectional retrospective study in a developing country. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2023; 24:137. [PMID: 37393225 PMCID: PMC10314396 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-02086-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Any disruption in continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions can lead to poor outcomes for the patients as well as great damage for the community and the health system. This study aims to determine the continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Through a cross-sectional retrospective study, data registered in six health centers in Yazd, Iran were analyzed. Data included the number of patients with chronic conditions (hypertension and diabetes) and average daily admission during a year before COVID-19 pandemic and the similar period after COVID-19 outbreak. The experience of continuity of care was assessed applying a validated questionnaire from a sample of 198 patients. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, independent T-Test and Multivariable regression were used for analysis. FINDINGS Results indicate that both visit load of the patients with chronic conditions (hypertension and diabetes) and their average daily admission were decreased significantly during a year after COVID-19 pandemic compared to the similar period before COVID-19 outbreak. The moderate average score of the patients` experience towards continuity of care during the pandemic was also reported. Regression analysis showed that age for the diabetes patients and insurance status for the hypertension patients affect the COC mean scores. CONCLUSION COVID-19 pandemic causes serious decline in the continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions. Such a deterioration not only can lead to make these patients` condition worse in a long-term period but also it can make irreparable damages to the whole community and the health system. To make the health systems resilient particularly in disasters, serious attention should be taken into consideration among them, developing the tele-health technologies, improving the primary health care capacity, designing the applied responsive models of continuity of care, making multilateral participations and inter-sectoral collaborations, allocating sustainable resources, and enabling the patients with selfcare skills are more highlighted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abbasali Dehghani Tafti
- Department of Health in Disater and Emergencies, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Azadeh Fatehpanah
- Department of Health in Disater and Emergencies, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Ibrahim Salmani
- Department of Health in Disater and Emergencies, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Bahrami
- Healthcare Management Department, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hossien Tavangar
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran
| | - Hossien Fallahzadeh
- Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Ali Ahmadi Tehrani
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Sajjad Bahariniya
- Health Services Management Department, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chary AN, Nandi M, Flood D, Tschida S, Wilcox K, Kurschner S, Garcia P, Rohloff P. Qualitative study of pathways to care among adults with diabetes in rural Guatemala. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e056913. [PMID: 36609334 PMCID: PMC9827254 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The burden of diabetes mellitus is increasing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Few studies have explored pathways to care among individuals with diabetes in LMICs. This study evaluates care trajectories among adults with diabetes in rural Guatemala. DESIGN A qualitative investigation was conducted as part of a population-based study assessing incidence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease in two rural sites in Guatemala. A random sample of 807 individuals had haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) screening for diabetes in both sites. Based on results from the first 6 months of the population study, semistructured interviews were performed with 29 adults found to have an HbA1c≥6.5% and who reported a previous diagnosis of diabetes. Interviews explored pathways to and experiences of diabetes care. Detailed interview notes were coded using NVivo and used to construct diagrams depicting each participant's pathway to care and use of distinct healthcare sectors. RESULTS Participants experienced fragmented care across multiple health sectors (97%), including government, private and non-governmental sectors. The majority of participants sought care with multiple providers for diabetes (90%), at times simultaneously and at times sequentially, and did not have longitudinal continuity of care with a single provider. Many participants experienced financial burden from out-of-pocket costs associated with diabetes care (66%) despite availability of free government sector care. Participants perceived government diabetes care as low-quality due to resource limitations and poor communication with providers, leading some to seek care in other health sectors. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the fragmented, discontinuous nature of diabetes care in Guatemala across public, private and non-governmental health sectors. Strategies to improve diabetes care access in Guatemala and other LMICs should be multisectorial and occur through strengthened government primary care and innovative private and non-governmental organisation care models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anita Nandkumar Chary
- Medicine & Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
| | - Meghna Nandi
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
- Family Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Flood
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
- Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Scott Tschida
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
| | - Katharine Wilcox
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
- Family Medicine, University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sophie Kurschner
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Pablo Garcia
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
- Nephrology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Peter Rohloff
- Center for Research on Indigenous Health, Maya Health Alliance Wuqu' Kawoq, Tecpan, Guatemala
- Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Corrao G, Rea F, Mancia G, Perseghin G, Merlino L, Martini N, Carbone S, Carle F. Cost-effectiveness of the adherence with recommendations for clinical monitoring of patients with diabetes. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021; 31:3111-3121. [PMID: 34531108 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS To validate a set of indicators for monitoring the quality of care of patients with diabetes in 'real-life' practice through its relationship with measurable clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. METHODS AND RESULTS A population-based cohort study was carried out by including the 20,635 patients, residents in the Lombardy Region (Italy), who in the year 2012 were newly taken-in-care for diabetes. Adherence with clinical recommendations (i.e., controls for glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile, urine albumin excretion and serum creatinine) was recorded during the first year after the patient was taken-in-care, and categorized according whether he/she complied with none or almost none (0 or 1), just some (2) or all or almost all (3 or 4) the recommendations, respectively denoted as poor, intermediate and high adherence. Short- and long-term complications of diabetes, and healthcare cost incurred by the National Health Service, were assessed during follow-up. Compared with patients with poor adherence, those with intermediate and high adherence respectively showed (i) a delay in outcome occurrence of 13 days (95% CI, -2 to 27) and 23 days (9-38), and (ii) a lower healthcare cost of 54 € and 77 €. In average, a gain of 18 Euros and 15 Euros for each day free from diabetic complication by increasing adherence respectively from poor to intermediate and from poor to high were observed. CONCLUSION Close control of patients with diabetes through regular clinical examinations must be considered the cornerstone of national guidance, national audits, and quality improvement incentive schemes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Corrao
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Rea
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Gianluca Perseghin
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rehabilitation, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Luca Merlino
- Epidemiologic Observatory, Lombardy Region Welfare Department, Milan, Italy
| | - Nello Martini
- Research and Health Foundation (Fondazione ReS -Ricerca e Salute-), Bologna, Italy
| | - Simona Carbone
- Department of Health Planning, Italian Health Ministry, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Carle
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Center of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chan KS, Wan EYF, Chin WY, Cheng WHG, Ho MK, Yu EYT, Lam CLK. Effects of continuity of care on health outcomes among patients with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension: a systematic review. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:145. [PMID: 34217212 PMCID: PMC8254900 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01493-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background The rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) has placed a tremendous burden on healthcare systems around the world, resulting in a call for more effective service delivery models. Better continuity of care (CoC) has been associated with improved health outcomes. This review examines the association between CoC and health outcomes in patients with DM and/or HT. Methods This was a systematic review with searches carried out on 13 March 2021 through PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE and CINAHL plus, clinical trials registry and bibliography reviews. Eligibility criteria were: published in English; from 2000 onwards; included adult DM and/or HT patients; examined CoC as their main intervention/exposure; and utilised quantifiable outcome measures (categorised into health indicators and service utilisation). The study quality was evaluated with Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) appraisal checklists. Results Initial searching yielded 21,090 results with 42 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. High CoC was associated with reduced hospitalisation (16 out of 18 studies), emergency room attendances (eight out of eight), mortality rate (six out of seven), disease-related complications (seven out of seven), and healthcare expenses (four out of four) but not with blood pressure (two out of 13), lipid profile (one out of six), body mass index (zero out of three). Six out of 12 studies on diabetic outcomes reported significant improvement in haemoglobin A1c by higher CoC. Variations in the classification of continuity of care and outcome definition were identified, making meta-analyses inappropriate. CASP evaluation rated most studies fair in quality, but found insufficient adjustment on confounders, selection bias and short follow-up period were common limitations of current literatures. Conclusion There is evidence of a strong association between higher continuity of care and reduced mortality rate, complication risks and health service utilisation among DM and/or HT patients but little to no improvement in various health indicators. Significant methodological heterogeneity in how CoC and patient outcomes are assessed limits the ability for meta-analysis of findings. Further studies comprising sufficient confounding adjustment and standardised definitions are needed to provide stronger evidence of the benefits of CoC on patients with DM and/or HT. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-021-01493-x.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kam-Suen Chan
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eric Yuk-Fai Wan
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China. .,Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Weng-Yee Chin
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China
| | - Will Ho-Gi Cheng
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China
| | - Margaret Kay Ho
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China
| | - Esther Yee-Tak Yu
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cindy Lo-Kuen Lam
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Stømer UE, Wahl AK, Gøransson LG, Urstad KH. Exploring health literacy in patients with chronic kidney disease: a qualitative study. BMC Nephrol 2020; 21:314. [PMID: 32727397 PMCID: PMC7392653 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-020-01973-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with chronic kidney disease make day-to-day decisions about how to self-manage their disease. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) includes a risk for progression towards end-stage renal disease and the development of comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, which represents the leading cause of death among these patients. To reduce these risks, CKD patients are recommended to follow a healthy lifestyle with physical activity, food and fluid restrictions, and adherence to complex medication regimes throughout all phases of the disease. To manage the complexity of this health situation, health literacy (HL) is considered essential. The current prevailing understanding is that HL is a multidimensional concept and comprises a range of cognitive, affective, social, and personal skills that determine the motivation and ability to gain access to, understand, and use health information. Recently, we investigated multiple aspects of HL in CKD patients in a quantitative cross-sectional study utilizing the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) and observed that finding good health information and appraising health information were the most challenging aspects of HL. This study aimed to explore CKD patients’ lived experiences of different dimensions of HL presented in the HLQ. Methods This qualitative study utilized in-depth semistructured interviews. Twelve patients with different levels of HL were included. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke. Results We identified three main themes that were significant for CKD patients’ HL: 1. Variation in people’s attitudes and behavior as health information seekers, 2. The problem of fragmented healthcare in the context of multimorbidity makes the healthcare system challenging to navigate, and 3. The value of a good relationship with healthcare providers. Conclusion CKD patients take different approaches to health information. Limiting or avoiding health information may be a strategy used by some individuals to cope with the disease and does not necessarily mean that health information is inaccessible or difficult to understand. Comorbidity and a fragmented healthcare system can make the healthcare system challenging to navigate. A good and trusting relationship with healthcare providers seems to promote several aspects of HL and should be promoted to optimize CKD patients’ HL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Une Elisabeth Stømer
- Faculty of Health Science, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway. .,Department of Nephrology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
| | | | - Lasse Gunnar Gøransson
- Department of Nephrology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang J, Zhou Q, Nelson G. Effect of Continuous Nursing Intervention of Artificial Intelligence on Discharged Patients after Heart Valve Replacement and Application of Omaha System (Preprint). JMIR Med Inform 2020. [DOI: 10.2196/18962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
8
|
Elisabeth Stømer U, Klopstad Wahl A, Gunnar Gøransson L, Hjorthaug Urstad K. Health Literacy in Kidney Disease: Associations with Quality of Life and Adherence. J Ren Care 2020; 46:85-94. [DOI: 10.1111/jorc.12314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Une Elisabeth Stømer
- Faculty of Health ScienceUniversity of StavangerStavanger Norway
- Department of NephrologyStavanger University HospitalStavanger Norway
| | | | - Lasse Gunnar Gøransson
- Department of NephrologyStavanger University HospitalStavanger Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of BergenBergen Norway
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kuo TJ, Wu PC, Tang PL, Yin CH, Chu CH, Hung YM. Effects of continuity of care on the postradiotherapy survival of working-age patients with oral cavity cancer: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225635. [PMID: 31841525 PMCID: PMC6913929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Cancer of the oral cavity, a well-known global health concern, remains one of most common causes of cancer mortality. Continuity of care (COC), a measurement of the extent to which an individual patient receives care from a given provider over a specified period of time, can help cancer survivors process their experiences of dealing with the illness and recuperation; however, limited research has focused on the survival rate of working-age patients with oral cancer. Methods A total of 14,240 working-age patients (20 <age ≤65 years) with oral cavity cancer treated with radiotherapy (RT) during 2000–2013 were included in this study from a registry of patients with catastrophic illnesses maintained by the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We evaluated the effects of the Continuity of Care Index (COCI) proposed by Bice and Boxerman, sociodemographic factors, and comorbidities on the survival rate. This study categorized COC into three groups—low (COCI < 0.23), intermediate (COCI = 0.23–0.37), and high (COCI ≥ 0.38)—according to the distribution of scores in our sample. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine the demographic factors and comorbidities associated with the survival rate. Results Among all the relevant variables, low COCI, male sex, low socioeconomic status, no receipt of prior dental treatment before RT, residence outside northern Taiwan, chemotherapy receipt, and a history of diabetes increased the risk of mortality. Pre-RT dental evaluation and management was significantly associated with reduced post-RT mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.767, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.729–0.806, p < 0.001). Compared with patients with a high COCI, those with a low COCI exhibited an increased risk of mortality (aHR = 1.170, 95% CI = 1.093–1.252, p < 0.001). The mortality risk in the intermediate COC group was significantly higher than that in the high COC group (aHR = 1.194, 95% CI = 1.127–1.266, p < 0.001). To balance the distribution of the potential risk factors, propensity-score matching was used for the high COC (COCI > 0.38) and non-high COC (COCI ≤ 0.38) groups. After propensity-score matching, the mortality risk in the low and intermediate COC groups was also found to be significantly higher than that in the high COC group (aHR = 1.178, 95% CI = 1.074–1.292, p < 0.001 and aHR = 1.189, 95% CI = 1.107–1.277, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions In Taiwan, COC and prior dental treatment before RT significantly affected the survival rate of working-age patients with oral cancer. This result merits policymakers’ attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsu Jen Kuo
- Department of Stomatology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Dental Technology, Shu-Zen junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei Chen Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Pei Ling Tang
- Research Center of Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan.,College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hao Yin
- Research Center of Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chi Hsiang Chu
- Clinical Trial Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Institute of Statistics, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Min Hung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Yuhing Junior College of Health Care and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Saint-Pierre C, Prieto F, Herskovic V, Sepulveda M. Team Collaboration Networks and Multidisciplinarity in Diabetes Care: Implications for Patient Outcomes. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2019; 24:319-329. [PMID: 30802876 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2019.2901427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has almost doubled in recent decades and commonly presents comorbidities and complications. T2DM is a multisystemic disease, requiring multidisciplinary treatment provided by teams working in a coordinated and collaborative manner. The application of social network analysis techniques in the healthcare domain has allowed researchers to analyze interaction between professionals and their roles inside care teams. We studied whether the structure of care teams, modeled as complex social networks, is associated with patient progression. For this, we illustrate a data-driven methodology and use existing social network analysis metrics and metrics proposed for this research. We analyzed appointment and HbA1c blood test result data from patients treated at three primary health care centers, representing six different practices. Patients with good metabolic control during the analyzed period were treated by teams that were more interactive, collaborative and multidisciplinary, whereas patients with worsening or unstable metabolic control were treated by teams with less collaboration and more continuity breakdowns. Results from the proposed metrics were consistent with the previous literature and reveal relevant aspects of collaboration and multidisciplinarity.
Collapse
|
11
|
Relationship between Continuity of Care in the Multidisciplinary Treatment of Patients with Diabetes and Their Clinical Results. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9020268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Multidisciplinary treatment and continuity of care throughout treatment are important for ensuring metabolic control and avoiding complications in diabetic patients. This study examines the relationship between continuity of care of the treating disciplines and clinical evolution of patients. Data from 1836 adult patients experiencing type 2 diabetes mellitus were analyzed, in a period between 12 and 24 months. Continuity was measured by using four well known indices: Usual Provider Continuity (UPC), Continuity of Care Index (COCI), Herfindahl Index (HI), and Sequential Continuity (SECON). Patients were divided into five segments according to metabolic control: well-controlled, worsened, moderately decompensated, highly decompensated, and improved. Well-controlled patients had higher continuity by physicians according to UPC and HI indices (p-values 0.029 and <0.003), whereas highly decompensated patients had less continuity in HI (p-value 0.020). Continuity for nurses was similar, with a greater continuity among well-controlled patients (p-values 0.015 and 0.001 for UPC and HI indices), and less among highly decompensated patients (p-values 0.004 and <0.001 for UPC and HI indices). Improved patients had greater adherence to the protocol than those who worsened. The SECON index showed no significant differences across the disciplines. This study identified a relationship between physicians and nurse’s continuity of care and metabolic control in patients with diabetes, consistent with qualitative findings that highlight the role of nurses in treatment.
Collapse
|