Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study

Trends and Patterns in Emergency Department Visits: A Comprehensive Analysis of Adult Data From the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Database

Background Emergency department (ED) visits among adults have increased in recent years, with the United States reporting 140 million ED visits in 2021, equating to an overall rate of 43 visits per 100 people. This trend underscores challenges in accessing primary care and addressing underlying health conditions. Understanding the trends and patterns in ED utilization is essential for informing healthcare policy and practice. Objective This study aims to comprehensively analyze trends and patterns in ED visits among adults using data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) database. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of ED visit data from 1999 to 2019, focusing on adults aged 18 and over. The prevalence rates of ED visits were examined across demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic groups using datasets retrieved from the NCHS database. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests to assess variations in ED visit rates. Results This study's findings revealed a consistent increase in overall ED visits among adults, from 17.2 ± 0.3% in 1999 to 21.7 ± 0.3% in 2019. Disparities in ED utilization were evident across demographic and socioeconomic groups. Females had slightly higher visit rates, and significant racial disparities were noted, with American Indian or Alaska Native and Black or African American individuals showing the highest visit rates. Age-specific variations were observed, with young adults (18-24 years) and older adults (65 years and above) exhibiting higher visit rates. Socioeconomic status and health insurance coverage emerged as significant determinants, highlighting disparities in healthcare access. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into the trends and patterns of ED visits among adults, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address healthcare disparities and improve access to primary care services.

Population Health and Health Services: Old Challenges and New Realities in the COVID-19 Era

(1) Background: Health services that were already under pressure before the COVID-19 pandemic to maximize its impact on population health, have not only the imperative to remain resilient and sustainable and be prepared for future waves of the virus, but to take advantage of the learnings from the pandemic to re-configure and support the greatest possible improvements. (2) Methods: A review of articles published by the Special Issue on Population Health and Health Services to identify main drivers for improving the contribution of health services on population health is conducted. (3) Health services have to focus not just on providing the best care to health problems but to improve its focus on health promotion and disease prevention. (4) Conclusions: Implementing innovative but complex solutions to address the problems can hardly be achieved without a multilevel and multisectoral deliberative debate. The CHRODIS PLUS policy dialog method can help standardize policy-making procedures and improve network governance, offering a proven method to strengthen the impact of health services on population health, which in the post-COVID era is more necessary than ever.

The Positive Impacts of Exhibition-Driven Tourism on Sustainable Tourism, Economics, and Population: The Case of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in Japan

After the recession in Japan in the 1990s, Japanese art exhibitions began to appear. The purpose of these exhibitions was to revitalize these areas through the presentation of art (attracting visitors and tourists). Correspondingly, this study explores the significance of exhibition-driven tourism in Japan. The Echigo–Tsumari Art Triennial (ETAT) was used as a case to study how exhibition-driven tourism has impacted sustainable tourism, economics, and the population. The current paper collected panel data from 1900 to 2018. These panel data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and a correlation analysis (a one-way ANOVA and a Pearson correlation analysis in SPSS26). The empirical analysis showed that the Echigo–Tsumari Art Triennial (exhibition-driven tourism) had positive impacts on sustainable tourism, economics, and the population; its correlations with Niigata were also clear. This study generated results that are valuable from both academic and industry perspectives (exhibition-driven tourism), as this field has not been extensively researched. The current paper also presents the theoretical and practical implications of the statistical results.