A multidimensional framework for rating health system performance and sustainability: A nine plus one ranking system

An Analysis of the COVID-19 Situation in India in Terms of Testing, Treatment, Vaccine Acceptance and National Economic Performance

Objectives: This study aims to provide a comprehensive review on the analysis of COVID-19 pandemic in India and address economic impact, diagnosis approaches, and vaccine acceptance and hesitation. Method: We retrieved articles published in 2020 and 2021 and current data from official websites that narrate the strategy for COVID-19 testing, issues, and challenges, healthcare system insufficiency, statistics of cases, deaths, vaccination, and vaccine acceptance barriers, and beliefs. Results: India being the 2nd largest populated country with a population of 1.4 billion faced massive difficulty in controlling the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This crisis dramatically impeded the economy of the nation. India witnessed 2nd highest number (43,019,453) of confirmed cases and 3rd highest number of deaths (521,004) across the world. Conclusion: The major cause of the collapse of COVID-19 is the high population of India, pre-existing weak healthcare system, and the lack of awareness among the people. The fall, rise, and statistics provided in the review will help in comparing the current status with other countries and in making strong strategies to combat future calamities.

Investigating the Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Licorice Root to Prevent Ovariectomy-Mediated Complications

Introduction. The importance of women’s health and the quality of life after menopause is a critical issue. To prevent disability and menopause complications as well as avoid the side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), in this study, licorice hydroalcoholic extract (Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots) was evaluated as a natural remedy. Methods. Seventy-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: control group, Sham-operated group, Glycyrrhiza (Gly) 30% group, and ovariectomized group as well as two ovariectomized groups treated with Gly 10% and Gly 30%. Normal saline and different treatments were administered orally for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, estrogen, and progesterone levels in the ovariectomized rats were determined. Moreover, the stereological and histopathological changes in uterine tissue in all groups were determined. Phytochemical analyses were also performed to determine the total phenolic content and antioxidant potential of the extract. Result. The hydroalcoholic extract of licorice root exhibited considerable effect to improve calcium, estrogen, and progesterone levels in the ovariectomized rats. Also, hydroalcoholic extract of licorice root successfully decreases the amount of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level. The stereological and histopathological findings confirmed the therapeutic potential of this extract. The considerable effects of hydroalcoholic extract of licorice root could be due to high amounts of phytoestrogens with similar estrogen-like structures. Considerable total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were also seen in licorice root extract. Conclusion. Hydroalcoholic extract of licorice root due to containing high amounts of phytoestrogens with similar chemical structures to estradiol notably improves biochemical parameters as well as stereological and histopathological markers of uterine tissues in ovariectomy rats, so it could be a potential agent for prevention and/or treatment as hormone replacement therapy in healthy middle-aged and/or older women.

Evaluating Organizational Performance of Public Hospitals using the McKinsey 7-S Framework

BACKGROUND

This study examined non-financial aspects of the organizational performance of public hospitals from the perspective of hospital physicians; the obtained results were analyzed to identify the necessary improvements in organizational performance.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of multidisciplinary public hospitals on a group of 249 randomly selected physicians from 22 in-patient departments or clinics operating in the Warsaw region. The study data was collected using the structured World Health Organization questionnaires (to be filled out by respondents) assessing the hospital's organizational performance variables qualified according to the McKinsey 7-S Framework. Epidata software version 3.1 was used for data entry, and the analysis was carried out in the SPSS software, version 19. The results of the organization evaluation are presented in the McKinsey 7-S Framework diagram. Key elements of the performance factors were grouped into 'stens', and the sten values were expressed as arithmetic means. Normal distribution of the stens was validated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The significance of differences between the analyzed stens was compared with the paired Student t-test. The interdependence of the variables was determined using the Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

The results revealed a significant difference (p <0.05) in the respondents' assessment of social (a mean score of 2.58) and technical (a mean score of 2.80) organizational aspects of the hospital operation. Scores for all variables were low. The social elements of an organization with the lowest score included 'staff', and in it the aspect - 'efforts are made to inspire employees at the lowest levels of the organization', 'skills' involving the learning style followed by the management/managerial staff, and 'management style' (average scores of 2.38, 2.56, 2.61, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Consistently with the existing literature, social factors were shown to play a more significant role in the management and they therefore deserve careful attention and more recognition when identifying and improving the key aspects affecting the organizational performance of public hospitals. Technical elements (strategy, structure, system) are important, but were demonstrated to have limited effect on the organizational operations geared towards ensuring effective functioning of a public hospital.