Impacts of Neonatal Hospitalization on Families during the 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data are available regarding family and financial well-being among parents whose infants were hospitalized during the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The study objective was to evaluate the family and financial well-being of parents whose infants were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: Parents were recruited for this online, cross-sectional survey via support groups on social media. Data collection was completed between May 18, 2020 and July 31, 2020. The final sample consisted of 178 parents, who had an infant hospitalized in an NICU between February 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020. The primary outcomes were impact on family life and financial stability, as measured by the Impact on Family scale, an instrument that evaluates changes to family life as a result of infant or childhood illness. RESULTS: Of the 178 parent respondents, 173 (97%) were mothers, 107 (59.4%) were non-Hispanic White, and 127 (69.5%) of the infants were born prematurely. Parents reported significant family impact and greater financial difficulty. Extremely premature infants, lower household income, parent mental health, and lower parental confidence were predictive of greater impacts on family life. CONCLUSION: Parents reported significant family and financial impacts during their infant's hospitalization amid COVID-19. Further studies are needed to guide clinical practice and inform family-supportive resources that can mitigate consequences to family well-being. KEY POINTS: · Impact of infant hospitalization in the context of COVID-19 is largely unknown.. · In a cohort of NICU parents during COVID-19, they reported changes to family life and finances.. · Greater impacts were reported by parents with lower income, confidence, and very premature infants..

A longitudinal evaluation of family caregivers' willingness to pay for an in-home nonpharmacologic intervention for people living with dementia: results from a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the willingness-to-pay (WTP) of family caregivers to learn care strategies for persons living with dementia (PLwD). DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Community-dwelling PLwD and their caregivers (dyads) in Maryland and Washington, DC. PARTICIPANTS: 250 dyads. INTERVENTION: Tailored Activity Program (TAP) compared to attention control. TAP provides activities tailored to the PLwD and instructs caregivers in their use. MEASUREMENT: At baseline, 3 and 6 months, caregivers were asked their WTP per session for an 8-session 3-month in-home nonpharmacologic intervention to address behavioral symptoms and functional dependence. RESULTS: At baseline, 3 and 6 months, caregivers assigned to TAP were willing to pay $26.10/session (95%CI:$20.42, $33.00), $28.70 (95%CI:$19.73, $39.30), and $22.79 (95%CI: $16.64, $30.09), respectively; attention control caregivers were willing to pay $37.90/session (95%CI: $27.10, $52.02), $30.92 (95%CI: $23.44, $40.94), $27.44 (95%CI: $20.82, $35.34), respectively. The difference in baseline to 3 and 6 months change in WTP between TAP and the attention control was $9.58 (95%CI: -$5.00, $25.47) and $7.15 (95%CI: -$5.72, $21.81). The difference between TAP and attention control in change in the proportion of caregivers willing to pay something from baseline to 3 and 6 months was -12% (95%CI: -28%, -5%) and -7% (95%CI:-25%, -11%), respectively. The difference in change in WTP, among caregivers willing to pay something, between TAP and attention control from baseline to 3 and 6 months was $17.93 (95%CI: $0.22, $38.30) and $11.81 (95%CI: -$2.57, $28.17). CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers are willing to pay more for an intervention immediately following participation in a program similar to which they were asked to value.

Monitoring and performance indicators in family health units and the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3) in health: a comparative analysis in Portugal in the 2013-2018 period. / Indicadores de monitorização e desempenho nas unidades de saúde familiar e os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável na saúde (ODS 3): uma análise comparada em Portugal no período de 2013-2018.

The scale of transformation required to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is considerable. The third SDG (SDG3) is explicitly health-related to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all, at all ages. Primary care (PHC), in this context, is the backbone of a health system that can improve people's health, reduce spending and inequalities. A robust system orientation towards PHC must be temporally stable since its reformulation. This analysis uses an instrumental case study. This type of case study provides the opportunity to learn about events. We analyzed and debated 13 indicators, comparing over time, the results obtained by the type of Portuguese health units: USF-A, USF-B, UCSP, UCSP-M. The results show some discrepancies when comparing USFs and UCSPs and may contribute to the deterioration of access inequalities. This is a problem related to clinical governance and not the health unit model. Empowering coordination and improving the effectiveness of middle management is crucial.

É considerável a escala da transformação necessária para alcançar todos os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS). O terceiro ODS (ODS3), explicitamente, está relacionado com a saúde, visando assegurar vidas saudáveis e bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades. Os Cuidados de Saúde Primários (CSP), neste contexto, constituem a espinha dorsal de um sistema de saúde que pode melhorar a saúde das pessoas, reduzir a despesa e diminuir as desigualdades. Uma forte orientação do sistema para os CSP deve ser temporalmente estável, desde a sua reformulação. Esta análise utiliza o estudo de caso instrumental. Este tipo de estudo de caso oferece a oportunidade de aprender sobre os acontecimentos. Analisamos e debatemos 13 indicadores, comparando ao longo do tempo, os resultados obtidos pela tipologia de unidades de saúde existentes em Portugal: USF-A, USF-B, UCSP, UCSP-M. Os resultados demonstrados são discrepantes, quando se comparam as USF e as UCSP e podem contribuir para o aprofundamento das desigualdades de acesso. Este é um problema que se relaciona com a governação clínica e não com o modelo de unidade de saúde. O empoderamento das coordenações e a melhoria de eficácia da gestão intermédia é aqui fundamental.

National Primary Care Policy 2017: analysis of teams composition and national coverage of Family Health. / Política Nacional de Atenção Básica de 2017: análise da composição das equipes e cobertura nacional da Saúde da Família.

The Family Health Strategy is the main form of organization of the Brazilian health system. However, the third edition of the National Primary Health Care Policy (PNAB) recognized other types of teams financially. A time series study was conducted from 2007 to 2019 using data from the National Register of Health Facilities (CNES) of jobs, teams and national coverage of Family Health to analyze the effects of the 2017 National Primary Health Care Policy (PNAB) on team composition. We observed the concentration of doctors in the Southeast and Northeast and variation of this professional category before the events of the "Mais Médicos" (More Doctors) Program. The number of nurses increased 5% and Community Health Workers (ACS) dropped 0.3% in the country. Despite the authorization and funding for the implementation of "Primary Care" teams (eAB), they correspond to less than 1% of the total teams. It is noteworthy that the municipal managers' preferred mode is the traditional Family Health Teams, equivalent to 75% of the total and growing. While the questionings and expectations generated by the 2017 PNAB in the context of Primary Health Care, we can conclude that, regarding the teams and their compositions, no significant change was identified two years into its coming into force.

A Estratégia Saúde da Família é a principal forma de organização do sistema de saúde brasileiro. Contudo, a terceira edição da Política Nacional de Atenção Básica (PNAB) passou a reconhecer financeiramente outros tipos de equipes. Para analisar os efeitos da PNAB de 2017 na composição das equipes, foi realizado um estudo de série temporal de 2007 a 2019 utilizando dados do Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde (CNES) de postos de trabalho e de equipes e a cobertura nacional da Saúde da Família. Observou-se a concentração de médicos nas regiões Sudeste e Nordeste e oscilação dessa categoria profissional ante os acontecimentos do Programa Mais Médicos. Houve acréscimo de 5% de enfermeiros e redução de 0,3% dos ACS no país. A despeito da autorização e financiamento para implantação de equipes de "Atenção Básica" (eAB), elas correspondem a menos de 1% do total de equipes. Vale ressaltar que a modalidade preferencial dos gestores municipais se mantem pela Equipes de Saúde da Família, correspondendo a 75% do total de equipes e em crescimento. Apesar dos questionamentos e expectativas gerados pela PNAB de 2017 no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde, conclui-se que, em relação às equipes e suas composições, não houve mudança significativa após dois anos de sua vigência.

Indicadores de monitorização e desempenho nas unidades de saúde familiar e os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável na saúde (ODS 3): uma análise comparada em Portugal no período de 2013-2018 / Monitoring and performance indicators in family health units and the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3) in health: a comparative analysis in Portugal in the 2013-2018 period

Resumo É considerável a escala da transformação necessária para alcançar todos os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS). O terceiro ODS (ODS3), explicitamente, está relacionado com a saúde, visando assegurar vidas saudáveis e bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades. Os Cuidados de Saúde Primários (CSP), neste contexto, constituem a espinha dorsal de um sistema de saúde que pode melhorar a saúde das pessoas, reduzir a despesa e diminuir as desigualdades. Uma forte orientação do sistema para os CSP deve ser temporalmente estável, desde a sua reformulação. Esta análise utiliza o estudo de caso instrumental. Este tipo de estudo de caso oferece a oportunidade de aprender sobre os acontecimentos. Analisamos e debatemos 13 indicadores, comparando ao longo do tempo, os resultados obtidos pela tipologia de unidades de saúde existentes em Portugal: USF-A, USF-B, UCSP, UCSP-M. Os resultados demonstrados são discrepantes, quando se comparam as USF e as UCSP e podem contribuir para o aprofundamento das desigualdades de acesso. Este é um problema que se relaciona com a governação clínica e não com o modelo de unidade de saúde. O empoderamento das coordenações e a melhoria de eficácia da gestão intermédia é aqui fundamental.

Abstract The scale of transformation required to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is considerable. The third SDG (SDG3) is explicitly health-related to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all, at all ages. Primary care (PHC), in this context, is the backbone of a health system that can improve people's health, reduce spending and inequalities. A robust system orientation towards PHC must be temporally stable since its reformulation. This analysis uses an instrumental case study. This type of case study provides the opportunity to learn about events. We analyzed and debated 13 indicators, comparing over time, the results obtained by the type of Portuguese health units: USF-A, USF-B, UCSP, UCSP-M. The results show some discrepancies when comparing USFs and UCSPs and may contribute to the deterioration of access inequalities. This is a problem related to clinical governance and not the health unit model. Empowering coordination and improving the effectiveness of middle management is crucial.

Política Nacional de Atenção Básica de 2017: análise da composição das equipes e cobertura nacional da Saúde da Família / National Primary Care Policy 2017: analysis of teams composition and national coverage of Family Health

Resumo A Estratégia Saúde da Família é a principal forma de organização do sistema de saúde brasileiro. Contudo, a terceira edição da Política Nacional de Atenção Básica (PNAB) passou a reconhecer financeiramente outros tipos de equipes. Para analisar os efeitos da PNAB de 2017 na composição das equipes, foi realizado um estudo de série temporal de 2007 a 2019 utilizando dados do Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde (CNES) de postos de trabalho e de equipes e a cobertura nacional da Saúde da Família. Observou-se a concentração de médicos nas regiões Sudeste e Nordeste e oscilação dessa categoria profissional ante os acontecimentos do Programa Mais Médicos. Houve acréscimo de 5% de enfermeiros e redução de 0,3% dos ACS no país. A despeito da autorização e financiamento para implantação de equipes de "Atenção Básica" (eAB), elas correspondem a menos de 1% do total de equipes. Vale ressaltar que a modalidade preferencial dos gestores municipais se mantem pela Equipes de Saúde da Família, correspondendo a 75% do total de equipes e em crescimento. Apesar dos questionamentos e expectativas gerados pela PNAB de 2017 no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde, conclui-se que, em relação às equipes e suas composições, não houve mudança significativa após dois anos de sua vigência.

Abstract The Family Health Strategy is the main form of organization of the Brazilian health system. However, the third edition of the National Primary Health Care Policy (PNAB) recognized other types of teams financially. A time series study was conducted from 2007 to 2019 using data from the National Register of Health Facilities (CNES) of jobs, teams and national coverage of Family Health to analyze the effects of the 2017 National Primary Health Care Policy (PNAB) on team composition. We observed the concentration of doctors in the Southeast and Northeast and variation of this professional category before the events of the "Mais Médicos" (More Doctors) Program. The number of nurses increased 5% and Community Health Workers (ACS) dropped 0.3% in the country. Despite the authorization and funding for the implementation of "Primary Care" teams (eAB), they correspond to less than 1% of the total teams. It is noteworthy that the municipal managers' preferred mode is the traditional Family Health Teams, equivalent to 75% of the total and growing. While the questionings and expectations generated by the 2017 PNAB in the context of Primary Health Care, we can conclude that, regarding the teams and their compositions, no significant change was identified two years into its coming into force.

An assessment of the economic burden of senile chronic diseases in China based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the economic burden of senile chronic diseases (SCD) in China. METHODS: Based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey data, we used propensity score matching to compare the economic burden of SCD for families with and without members with SCD. RESULTS: We examined three aspects of economic burden: health service utilization, including health care utilization and expenditure, family daily consumption spending, and workforce participation of family members in labor markets. SCD-families showed a higher hospitalization rate and number of outpatient visits than the control group. SCD-families also consumed less per capita. Additionally, the negative influence of SCD on total family income may be partially offset by increasing the labor force participation rate of healthy family members. Finally, we also discussed the burden of SCD  in different educational status. CONCLUSIONS: Relevant results may provide insight into formulating health and labor policies by the Chinese government. The study significance consists of the selection of matching variables and robustness, whereas study limitations include the omission of other important variables.

Crise no Brasil e impactos na frágil governança regional e federativa da política de saúde / Crisis in Brazil and impacts on the fragile regional and federative health policy governance

Resumo Desde 2014, o Brasil vive crise econômica-fiscal-política-institucional. Este estudo avalia se a implementação das respostas à crise contribuiu para fragilizar a governança regional e federativa do SUS. Trata-se de estudo de implementação, ampliando-o com duas categorias da saúde coletiva, o poder em Testa e o sujeito em Campos, compreendendo que a implementação desloca poder e constrói sujeitos. Analisamos dados públicos, de 2014 a 2018, organizados em quatro eixos de análise: a) instrumentos de implementação da resposta à crise; b) interferência do Legislativo e do Judiciário nos investimentos; c) marcos legais da regionalização; d) atores federativos e possíveis coalizões de defesa. Os resultados revelam redução de recursos federais, especificamente para redes regionais de atenção; aumento da interferência legislativa e judicial nos recursos da saúde, pela evolução das emendas parlamentares e das ações judiciais e mudanças nas diretrizes de regionalização do SUS. Observa-se deslocamento de poder dos arranjos regionais federativos para o governo central, parlamento, judiciário e serviços locais isolados. Conclui-se que a resposta à crise fragilizou a governança regional federativa do SUS, agravando os impactos da crise na saúde.

Abstract Since 2014, Brazil has been experiencing an economic-fiscal-political-institutional crisis. This study evaluates whether the implementation of crisis responses contributed to weaken SUS regional and federative governance. This is an implementation study, and two theoretical categories of public health, the power in Testa and the subject in Campos have been incorporated. It presumes that the implementation shifts power and develops subjects. We analyzed public data from 2014 to 2018, organized into four axes of analysis: a) instruments for implementing crisis response; b) parliament and judicial interference in investments; c) legal frameworks of regionalization; d) federative actors and possible defense coalitions. Results show reduced federal resources, specifically for regional care networks; increased parliament and judicial interference with health resources, due to the evolution of congressional amendments and lawsuits, and changes in SUS regionalization guidelines. There is a shift of power from federative regional arrangements to the central government, parliament, the judiciary, and isolated local services. It is concluded that the response to the crisis weakened the regional federative governance of SUS, aggravating the impacts of the crisis on health.

A crise econômica e a atenção primária à saúde no SUS da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / The economic crisis and primary health care in the SUS of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Resumo Este artigo aborda a crise na atenção primária à saúde do sistema público de saúde da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a partir de 2018. Tal município teve forte expansão da atenção primária desde 2009, adotando Organizações Sociais para a contratação de profissionais e gerenciamento dos serviços, qualificando a infraestrutura das unidades e priorizando a medicina de família e comunidade, além de adotar práticas gerenciais como normatizações de ofertas, avaliação e remuneração por desempenho, "marketing", dentre outras. Diante da recente crise econômica, a decisão do gestor municipal foi de reduzir equipes de saúde da família, considerando a atual Política Nacional de Atenção Básica e argumentando ser possível otimizar recursos (fazendo mais com menos). Neste processo, enfrentou resistências, que não foram suficientes para freá-lo. Pela ressonância desta cidade (segunda maior do Brasil e com destaque na imprensa nacional) e tomando como base documentos públicos e formulações sobre a gestão, a crise expressa na atenção básica deste município foi problematizada em torno das implicações da adoção de Organizações Sociais na sustentabilidade dos serviços, da condução dos processos de gestão e suas racionalidades bem como da atuação política de agentes sociais em defesa do SUS e da atenção primária em particular.

Abstract This paper addresses the primary health care crisis of Rio de Janeiro public health system as of 2018. This municipality has experienced a robust primary care expansion since 2009, adopting Social Organizations for recruiting professionals and managing services, qualifying the infrastructure of units and prioritizing family and community medicine, as well as adopting management practices such as standardized offers, evaluation and pay-for-performance compensation, marketing, among others. Given the recent economic crisis, the municipal manager decided to reduce family health teams, considering the current National Policy of Primary Care and arguing that it is possible to optimize resources (doing more with less). In this process, he faced resistance that was not enough to stop him. Due to the resonance of this city (second largest in Brazil and prominent in the national press) and based on public documents and formulations on management, the crisis expressed in the primary health care of this city was debated around the implications of the adoption of Social Organizations in the sustainability of health services, conducting management processes and their rationalities, as well as the political action of social agents advocating for the SUS and primary care in particular.

The economic crisis and primary health care in the SUS of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. / A crise econômica e a atenção primária à saúde no SUS da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

This paper addresses the primary health care crisis of Rio de Janeiro public health system as of 2018. This municipality has experienced a robust primary care expansion since 2009, adopting Social Organizations for recruiting professionals and managing services, qualifying the infrastructure of units and prioritizing family and community medicine, as well as adopting management practices such as standardized offers, evaluation and pay-for-performance compensation, marketing, among others. Given the recent economic crisis, the municipal manager decided to reduce family health teams, considering the current National Policy of Primary Care and arguing that it is possible to optimize resources (doing more with less). In this process, he faced resistance that was not enough to stop him. Due to the resonance of this city (second largest in Brazil and prominent in the national press) and based on public documents and formulations on management, the crisis expressed in the primary health care of this city was debated around the implications of the adoption of Social Organizations in the sustainability of health services, conducting management processes and their rationalities, as well as the political action of social agents advocating for the SUS and primary care in particular.

Este artigo aborda a crise na atenção primária à saúde do sistema público de saúde da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a partir de 2018. Tal município teve forte expansão da atenção primária desde 2009, adotando Organizações Sociais para a contratação de profissionais e gerenciamento dos serviços, qualificando a infraestrutura das unidades e priorizando a medicina de família e comunidade, além de adotar práticas gerenciais como normatizações de ofertas, avaliação e remuneração por desempenho, "marketing", dentre outras. Diante da recente crise econômica, a decisão do gestor municipal foi de reduzir equipes de saúde da família, considerando a atual Política Nacional de Atenção Básica e argumentando ser possível otimizar recursos (fazendo mais com menos). Neste processo, enfrentou resistências, que não foram suficientes para freá-lo. Pela ressonância desta cidade (segunda maior do Brasil e com destaque na imprensa nacional) e tomando como base documentos públicos e formulações sobre a gestão, a crise expressa na atenção básica deste município foi problematizada em torno das implicações da adoção de Organizações Sociais na sustentabilidade dos serviços, da condução dos processos de gestão e suas racionalidades bem como da atuação política de agentes sociais em defesa do SUS e da atenção primária em particular.

The costs of seeking healthcare: Illness, treatment seeking and out of pocket expenditures among the urban poor in Delhi, India.

The poor often experience illness and the treatment costs are high and even catastrophic for the poor. This paper reports the extent of illness, treatment-seeking behaviour and out of pocket healthcare expenditures and the determinants of treatment-seeking behaviour and healthcare expenditures among the urban poor living in Delhi. A total of 2,998 households participated in the study. Socio-demographic details, illness experiences (episodic illness in the past 3 months, hospitalisation in the past 1 year and any chronic illness), treatment seeking and healthcare expenditures were collected for all household members through a pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regressions were carried out for factors associated with treatment-seeking choices. Multiple linear regressions were carried for factors associated with out of pocket expenditures (OOPE). Of the total 15,218 household members (of the 2,998 households), 4,052 (26.6%) experienced episodic illness (mainly fever, respiratory illnesses, food- and waterborne diseases and eye infections) in the past 3 months, 230 (1.5%) were hospitalised and 976 (6.4%) have chronic illness (mainly hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and respiratory problems). Of the 2,998 households, 2,225 (74.2%) households reported at least one event of illness. Unqualified practitioners were the main source of care for episodic illnesses. Perceived seriousness of the illness, having Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) benefit, higher educational status of the head of the household, higher monthly household incomes, belonging other backward castes and settled-migrant status led to seeking formal care. Dengue was the main reason for hospitalisation. Government including ESIS hospitals were mainly utilised for hospitalisation. Healthcare expenditures were higher for private healthcare. Possession of mandatory health insurance was protective against OOPEs. OOPEs were more for the men/boys and for the young. Improving access to government healthcare services is important. Extending the ESIS to the unorganised workers including urban poor migrants should be considered so as to bring them under mandatory social protection.

[Poverty and its influence on risk and family damage in a district of Lima, Peru: results by sector analysis and Primary Health Care]. / Pobreza y su influencia en el riesgo y daño familiar en un distrito de Lima, Perú: resultados por sectorización y atención primaria en salud.

OBJECTIVE: Poverty generates negative effects on health, education, and family environment. Sectoral analysis through its components enables to identify the risk groups and damage in the families. The objective of this work is to determine the state of poverty and its influence on the risk and family damage in the district of Villa Maria del Triunfo (VMT), Lima, Peru. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ecological study that used the database of the health facility of the VMT district, in which the family risk and the socioeconomic level of 450 families in 7 sectors are evaluated between the years 2015 to June 2017. RESULTS: More than three-quarters of the families are poor (77.9%). The most prevalent damages were malnutrition and mental health. The most frequent family risk factors were family violence, with the absence of breastfeeding in infants, adolescent pregnancy, and old age. It was found that poverty was associated with family risk (P=.019, OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.07-3.23), and damage risk (P<.001, OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.32-3.92). CONCLUSION: The level of poverty is high. This condition was associated with increased risk and family damage, especially for malnutrition and mental health problems. Interventions should be carried out in families, especially among the poor, and decisive measures should be made on the social factors determining ill-health.

Identifying Important Outcomes for Young People With CKD and Their Caregivers: A Nominal Group Technique Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has wide-ranging and long-term consequences for young people and their families. The omission of outcomes that are important to young people with CKD and their caregivers limits knowledge to guide shared decision making. We aimed to identify the outcomes that are important to young people with CKD and their caregivers. STUDY DESIGN: We used the nominal group technique whereby participants identified and ranked outcomes and explained their priorities. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS: Young people with CKD (stages 1-5, dialysis, or transplantation) and their caregivers were purposively sampled from 6 centers across Australia, the United States, and Canada. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Importance scores were calculated (scale of 0-1), and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: 34 patients (aged 8-21 years) and 62 caregivers participated in 16 groups and identified 48 outcomes. The 5 highest ranked outcomes for patients were survival (importance score, 0.25), physical activity (0.24), fatigue (0.20), lifestyle restrictions (0.20), and growth (0.20); and for caregivers, kidney function (0.53), survival (0.28), infection (0.22), anemia (0.20), and growth (0.17). 12 themes were identified reflecting their immediate and current priorities (wanting to feel normal, strengthening resilience, minimizing intrusion into daily life, imminent threats to life, devastating family burdens, and seeking control over health) and considerations regarding future impacts (protecting health/development, remaining hopeful, concern for limited opportunities, prognostic uncertainty, dreading painful and invasive procedures, and managing expectations). LIMITATIONS: Only English-speaking participants were recruited. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney function, infection, survival, and growth were the highest priorities for patients with CKD and their caregivers. Young people with CKD also prioritized highly the outcomes that directly affected their lifestyle and sense of normality, while caregiver's highest priorities concerned the long-term health of their child, current health problems, and the financial and family burdens of caring for a child with CKD.

Family health and conditional cash transfer in Brazil and its effect on tuberculosis mortality.

BACKGROUND: Social protection can reduce poverty and act on the determinants of tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and the Bolsa Família Programme on TB-related mortality in Brazil. METHODS: This was an ecological study in which the units of analysis were Brazilian municipalities between 2001 and 2012. The principal independent variables were the levels of coverage of the primary health care system and the conditional cash transfer programme. The dependent variable was TB mortality rate (obtained from national databases). Descriptive analysis and negative binomial regression based on panel data using fixed-effects models were performed. Crude and adjusted estimates were calculated for continuous and categorical variables. RESULTS: A high FHS coverage was significantly associated with a reduction in the TB mortality rate (RR 0.80, 95%CI 0.72-0.89). An increase in the coverage of the Brazilian cash transfer programme was significantly associated with a reduction in the TB mortality rate (RR 0.87, 95%CI 0.81-0.96). CONCLUSION: FHS and the Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer programme had a positive impact on the TB mortality rate in Brazil. Public policies should include economic support combined with health promotion.

Gasto de bolsillo y gasto catastrófico en salud en los hogares de Cartagena, Colombia / Out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditure in households of Cartagena, Colombia

RESUMEN Objetivo Estimar el gasto de bolsillo y la probabilidad de gasto catastrófico de los hogares y sus determinantes socioeconómicos en Cartagena, Colombia. Materiales y Métodos Estudio transversal en una muestra poblacional estratificada aleatoria de hogares de Cartagena. Se estimaron dos modelos de regresión cuyas variables dependientes fueron gasto de bolsillo y probabilidad de gasto catastrófico en salud de los hogares. Resultados El gasto de bolsillo promedio anual en hogares pobres fue 1 566 036 COP (US$783) (IC95% 1 117 597-2 014 475); en hogares de estrato medio 2 492 928 COP (US$1246) (IC95% 1 695 845-3 290 011) y en hogares ricos 4 577 172 COP (US$2 288) (IC95% 1 838 222-7 316 122). Como proporción del ingreso, el gasto de bolsillo en salud fue de 14,6% en los hogares pobres, de 8,2% en los hogares de estrato medio y de 7,0% en los hogares ricos. La probabilidad de gasto catastrófico en salud de los hogares pobres fue 30,6% (IC95% 25,6-35,5%), de los de estrato medio del 10,2% (IC95% 4,5-15,9%) y de los hogares de estrato alto del 8,6% (IC95% 1,823,0%). El estrato socioeconómico, la educación y la ocupación fueron los principales determinantes del gasto de bolsillo en salud y de la probabilidad de incurrir en gasto catastrófico en salud. Conclusiones En el sistema de salud persisten desigualdades en la protección financiera de los hogares contra el gasto de bolsillo y la probabilidad de gasto catastrófico. El presente estudio genera evidencia para revisar la política de protección social de los hogares socioeconómicamente más vulnerables.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To estimate out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure and the probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure, as well as the socio-demographic determinants of households in Cartagena, Colombia. Materials and Methods Population-based cross-sectional study on a randomized stratified sample of Cartagena households. Two regression models were developed using OOP health expenditure and the probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure as dependent variables. Results The average annual OOP health expenditure was $1 566 036 COP (US$783) (95%CI: $1 117 597 - $2 014 475) in poor households, $2 492 928 COP (US$1 246) (95%CI: $1 695 845 - $3 290 011) in middle class households, and $4 577 172 COP (uS$2 288) (95%CI: $1 838 222 - $7 316 122) in upper class households. Regarding the household income ratio, the OOP health expenditure was 14.6% in poor households, 8.2% in middle class, and 7.0% in upper class households. The probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure was 30.6% (95%CI: 25.6% - 35.5%), 10.2% (95%CI: 4.5%-15.9%) and 8.6% (95%CI: 1.8%-23%) in the low, middle- and high-class households, respectively. Educational attainment, socioeconomic strata and employment were the main determinants of OOP and the probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure. Conclusions The health system has persistent inequalities regarding the financial protection of households related to out-of-pocket expenditure and the probability of catastrophic expenditure. This study provides evidence to review the social protection policy for the most socio-economically vulnerable households.(AU)

Development and validation of the Social Determinants of Health Questionnaire and implications for "Promoting Food Security and Healthy Lifestyles" in a complex urban food ecosystem.

In this case study, a formative evaluation was conducted for "Promoting Food Security and Healthy Lifestyles" pilot intervention at a Community-Based Organization in a marginalized neighborhood in Bedford-Stuyvesant in New York City. Utilizing a rigorous, theoretically grounded, and mixed methods approach, a survey was designed to encompass the social, environmental, and behavioral determinants of food insecurity and health promotion for Emergency Food Assistance System users. The final survey tested well for face and content validity and meets the criteria for internal reliability. This will aid to develop culturally tailored programs and policies for low-income, food insecure populations facing social and health disparities in this large urban neighborhood.

Financial hardship after traumatic brain injury: a brief scale for family caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: Financial hardship is frequently posited as a significant factor influencing family health and adjustment after brain injury, though traditional methods of measurement have shown limited usefulness. The purpose of this study was to adapt and test the utility of a brief scale of financial hardship (BSFH-BI) for use with family caregivers after TBI. METHODS: The researchers constructed the BSFH-BI using financial well-being items adapted from three survey instruments. The BSFH-BI questionnaire was completed by 136 family caregivers of individuals with TBIs. Scale utility was evaluated through reliability analysis, factor analysis, and correlations with a measure of life satisfaction. RESULTS: The factor analysis revealed that the BSFH-BI had a meaningful two factor structure consisting of items related to (a) meeting essential living expenses and (b) financial changes after the injury. The scale showed high internal consistency (α = 0.92) and moderate negative correlations with life satisfaction (rs = -0.58). CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings indicate that the BSFH-BI can be a reliable and valid scale for use with family caregivers after TBI. The authors recommend further study of financial hardship within models of adaptation to TBI using psychometrically validated instruments such as the BSFH-BI.

The economic impact of multiple sclerosis to the patients and their families in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) imposes high economic costs on society, but the patients and their families have to bear some of these costs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate the magnitude of these economic costs in Norway. METHOD: We collected data through a postal questionnaire survey targeting 922 MS patients in Hordaland County, western Norway, in 2013-2014; 546 agreed to participate and were included. The questionnaire included clinical and demographic characteristics, volume and cost of MS-related resource use, work participation, income, government financial support, and disability status. RESULTS: The mean annual total economic costs for the patients and their families were €11,603. Indirect costs accounted for 66% and were lower for women than for men. The direct costs were nearly identical for men and women. The costs increased up to Expanded Disability Status Scale score 6 except for steps between 3 and 4 where it remained nearly constant. The costs reduced from EDSS 6 to 8, and increased from 8 to 9. Lifetime costs ranged from €24,897 to €70,021 for patients with late disease onset and slow progression, and between €441,934 and €574,860 for patients with early onset and rapid progression. CONCLUSION: The economic costs of MS impose a heavy burden on the patients and their families. Supplementing the information on the cost of MS to society, our finding should be included as background information in decisions on reimbursing and allocating public resources for the well-being of MS patients and their families.