Factors related to healthcare costs of road traffic accidents in Bucaramanga, Colombia / Factores relacionados con costos por atención médica de siniestros de tránsito en Bucaramanga, Colombia

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To determine the factors related to overall healthcare costs of road traffic accidents in Bucaramanga, Colombia. METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through the analysis of road traffic accident records that took place in 2019 in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Cost quartiles in dollars were compared using Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. Odds ratios were also calculated in logistic regression. RESULTS 3,150 road accidents were reported in 2019 involving 7,038 people, of which 812 had information related to healthcare costs in health care institutions. The median cost was 56.59 USD (RI = 29.35-140.15), average cost of 290.11 USD ± 731.22 (95%CI: 239.74-340.48). A higher possibility to be in the 4th quartile was found when persons were under 18 years of age (OR = 4.88; 95%CI: 1.30-18.32) or 46-60 years (OR = 3.66; 95%CI: 1.01-13.30), the type of vehicle involved is motorcycle (OR = 2.79; 95%CI: 1.25-6.24), bicycle (OR = 7.66; 95%CI: 2.70-21.68), having a head injury (OR = 4.50; 95%CI: 2.61-7.76) and hypothetical drunk driving (OR = 12.44; 95%CI: 2.01-76.87). CONCLUSIONS Relevant factors in healthcare costs were riding a motorcycle or bicycle, having a head injury, being under 18 years of age or 46 to 60 years of age and hypothetical drunk driving. It is important to implement prevention measures based on identified factors to reduce road accident rate and therefore, its socioeconomic costs.

RESUMEN OBJETIVO Determinar los factores relacionados con los costos generales durante la atención en salud de siniestros de tránsito en Bucaramanga, Colombia. MÉTODOS Estudio descriptivo, transversal, con análisis de registros de siniestros de tránsito durante 2019 en Bucaramanga, Colombia. Se realizó una comparación entre cuartiles de los costos en dólares con pruebas estadísticas de Chi-cuadrado de Pearson y exacta de Fisher. También, se calcularon odds ratio en regresión logística. RESULTADOS En 2019 se registraron 3.150 siniestros, con 7.038 personas involucradas, de los cuales 812 tenían información de costos generados por atención en instituciones de salud. La mediana de costos fue US$ 56,59 (RI = 29,35-140,15), promedio de US$ 290,11 ± 731,22 (IC95% 239,74-340,48). Se observó mayor posibilidad para estar en cuartil 4 de los costos si la persona tenía menos de 18 años (OR = 4,88; IC95% 1,30-18,32) o entre los 46-60 años de edad (OR = 3,66; IC95% 1,01-13,30), cuando el tipo de vehículo es la motocicleta (OR = 2,79; IC95% 1,25-6,24) y la bicicleta (OR = 7,66; IC95% 2,70-21,68), si la lesión ocurre en la cabeza (OR = 4,50; IC95% 2,61-7,76) y si la hipótesis está relacionada con embriaguez (OR = 12,44; IC95% 2,01-76,87). CONCLUSIÓN Los factores relevantes en los costos fueron la motocicleta, bicicleta, lesión en la cabeza, ser menor de 18 años o tener entre los 46 años y los 60 años y embriaguez como hipótesis. Es relevante implementar medidas de prevención según los factores identificados para disminuir la accidentalidad y, por ende, sus costos socioeconómicos.

Healthcare telemonitoring and business dynamics: challenges and opportunities for SUS / Telemonitoramento e a dinâmica empresarial em saúde: desafios e oportunidades para o SUS

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To point out challenges and opportunities for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) with the use of telemonitoring to face the increasing costs of non-communicable chronic diseases, based on its general panorama in Brazil, business dynamics and reapplication of data from American studies. METHODS Quali-quantitative approach with exploratory research. The field work focused on the analysis of the national market from private companies, since no experiences or studies related to this theme were identified in the SUS. To analyze the panorama and market dynamics, we investigated the offer of this technology based on the products and services available and their demand by reference hospitals the ten largest private health plan companies. To support the central discussion, we analyzed the reduction of costs with hospital admissions by the SUS due to chronic non-communicable diseases sensitive to telemonitoring (HCDST), using data from Datasus and some American studies from the MEDLINE/PubMed database. RESULTS Although in the embryonic phase, business agents search for new business opportunities, whereas public initiatives for the use of telemonitoring in collective health seem inexistent. The reapplication of U.S. data would reduce spending on HCDST and provide benefits, such as the reduction in emergency room care, acute hospitalizations, readmissions and home care time, among others, which point to even greater economic gains. CONCLUSIONS The development of a major project to reduce HCDST using this technology has the potential to advance in a comprehensive network of primary care, contribute to a greater dynamism of the national productive and innovative base and induce innovations along the chain of this emerging industry.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Apontar desafios e oportunidades para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) com o uso do telemonitoramento para enfrentar o aumento crescente dos custos com as doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, a partir do seu panorama geral no Brasil, dinâmica empresarial e reaplicação de dados de estudos americanos. MÉTODOS Este trabalho se enquadra na abordagem quali-quantitativa com pesquisa do tipo exploratória, e o trabalho de campo se concentrou na análise do mercado nacional a partir das empresas privadas, pois não se identificaram experiências ou estudos relacionados a esse tema no SUS. Para análise do panorama e da dinâmica do mercado, investigou-se a oferta a partir dos produtos e serviços disponíveis e a demanda por meio dos hospitais de referência, bem como as dez maiores empresas de planos de saúde privados. Para subsidiar a discussão central deste estudo, analisou-se a redução de custos com as internações hospitalares pelo SUS decorrentes das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis mais impactadas pelo telemonitoramento (IDCST), utilizando-se dados do Datasus e de alguns estudos americanos da base de dados MEDLINE/PubMed. RESULTADOS Embora em fase embrionária, os agentes empresariais se posicionam na busca por novas oportunidades de negócios, enquanto na saúde coletiva não há aparentemente iniciativas públicas para o uso do telemonitoramento. A reaplicação dos dados estadunidenses implicaria uma redução significativa nos gastos com IDCST pelo SUS, sem considerar outros benefícios, tais como a redução nos atendimentos nas salas de emergência, internações agudas, reinternações e tempo de cuidados domiciliares, entre outros, que apontam para ganhos econômicos ainda superiores com o uso do telemonitoramento. CONCLUSÕES O desenvolvimento de um grande projeto para a redução das IDCST a partir dessa tecnologia tem potencial para avançar em uma rede integral de atenção básica, contribuir para uma maior dinamização da base produtiva e inovativa nacional e induzir inovações em toda a cadeia dessa indústria emergente.

Economic Impact of New Biosafety Recommendations for Dental Clinical Practice During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract COVID-19 pandemic implied new biosafety recommendations to avoid dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 virus within healthcare centers. Changes on recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination protocols and organization of patient demand resulted may result in cost variation. Based on this, the present study aimed to evaluate the economic impact of new biosafety recommendations for oral healthcare assistance during COVID-19. An Activity Based Costing evaluation was used to calculate the acquisition of PPE and decontamination solutions recommended for dental practice during COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. PPE and decontamination solutions quantity and frequency of use were based on the newly COVID-19 recommendations. Costs (in Brazilian Real - R$) for biosafety recommendations pre- and post-COVID-19 were outlined and calculated for each patient, service shift and year. A sensitivity analysis considered 20% variation of direct costs. Previously to COVID-19 pandemic, direct costs of biosafety recommendations consisted of R$0.84 per patient, R$6.69 per service shift and R$3,413.94 per year. Post-COVID-19 costs of biosafety recommendations resulted in R$16.01 per patient, R$128.07 per service shift, and R$32,657.96 per year. Yearly costs can vary between R$26,126.37 and R$39,189.56. The annual budget increase necessary to adopt post-COVID biosafety recommendations was R$29,244.02. Newly biosafety recommendations increased significantly the costs of oral healthcare assistance during COVID-19 pandemic. Decision making of healthcare managers must consider rational and equity allocation of financial resources.

The Economic Burden of Selected Analgesic Drugs Prescription by Dentists in Slovakia

Objective: To analyse economic burden of selected analgesic drugs prescription by dentists in Slovakia over a 24-month period. Material and Methods: In this economic burden study, the data were provided from the largest public health insurance company in Slovakia. It was analysed 23,256 prescriptions of selected analgesic drugs (Acetylsalicylic Acid, Diclofenac, Nimesulide, Tramadol and Metamizole Sodium) by dentists in Slovakia. Results: The highest analgesics prescription by dentists was found in Diclofenac in 2016 with 11.2% prescription increase in 2017. The significant decrease of analgesic drug prescription by dentists in 2017 was observed in Tramadol (-29.9%). The economic burden of selected analgesic drugs by patients were €33,926 in 2017 with 21.3% significant decrease of average percentage differences (APD) in Tramadol and 84.6% significant increase of APD in Metamizole sodium in 2017. Patients participated 65.5% share in payment of selected analgesic drugs and Health Insurance Company participated only 34.5% share in payment of selected analgesic drugs in 2017. It was found increase of percentage analgesic drugs prescription in Diclofenac and Nimesulide and decrease of percentage drug prescription in Metamizole sodium from 1/2016 to 12/2017. Conclusion: Economic burden on analgesic drugs prescribed by dentist was low per Slovak inhabitant in calculated. Diclofenac was most frequent prescribed analgesic drug with the highest economic burden. We recommend prescribing cheaper analgesic drugs with a lower economic burden and with the same effect.

Economic Burden of Selected Diagnostic Imaging Methods in Oral Cancer

Objective: To analyse of proportion and economic burden of selected diagnostic imaging methods of oral cancer according to quarters and average percentage differences in the Slovak population in the period 2016-2017. Material and Methods: In this descriptive study, the data were retrieved from the information system of the largest public health insurance company on our request, which archives the cost and proportion of diagnostic imaging methods of oral cancer in Slovak population. It was evaluated 48,995 of selected diagnostic imaging methods (Computed Tomography [CT], Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] and X-Ray) in the period 2016-2017. Results: The most frequently used diagnostic imaging method of oral cancer was magnetic resonance imaging method every quarters in 2016 and 2017 (53.7-54.7%) with slightly increasing trend in period 2016-2017. Mean economic burden of selected diagnostic imaging methods of oral cancer were 1,974,900€ for MRI method, 598,187€ for CT method and 5,394€ for RTG method in 2017. Decreasing trend of economic burden of diagnostic imaging method was found in MRI method and CT method in period 2016-2017. Conclusion: Our economic burden study provides a useful source for public health professional and clinicians in better understanding the economic burden of diagnostic methods in oral cancer.

A praticidade do uso de adoçantes alternativos / The practicability in the use of alternative sweeteners

O presente estudo faz uma breve revisäo de literatura sobre o xilitol, sorbitol, aspartame, esteviosídeo, sacarina e ciclamato, além de apresentar um trabalho de pesquisa sobre a variedade e disponobilidade destes adoçantes no mercado, bem como seu custo e aceitaçäo entre crianças de quatro a 12 anos de idade. Os resultados demonstraram que estes adoçantes, na maioria dos casos, podem ser introduzidos sem problemas em programas para o controle do risco de cárie, sendo seu alto custo o grande obstáculo para a implementaçäo de tais programas