Health Care Spending, Use, and Financial Hardship Among Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage Enrollees With Mental Health Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the differences in health care spending and utilization, and financial hardship between Traditional Medicare (TM) and Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees with mental health symptoms. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: We identified Medicare beneficiaries with mental health symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and the Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale in the 2015-2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes included health care spending and utilization (both general and mental health services), and financial hardship. The primary independent variable was MA enrollment. RESULTS: MA enrollees with mental health symptoms were 2.3 percentage points (95% CI: -3.4, -1.2; relative difference: 16.1%) less likely to have specialty mental health visits than TM enrollees with mental health symptoms. There were no significant differences in total health care spending, but annual out-of-pocket spending was $292 (95% CI: 152-432; 18.2%) higher among MA enrollees with mental health symptoms than TM enrollees with mental health symptoms. Additionally, MA enrollees with mental health symptoms were 5.0 (95% CI: 2.9-7.2; 22.3%) and 2.5 percentage points (95% CI: 0.8-4.2; 20.9%) more likely to have difficulty paying medical bills over time and to experience high financial burden than TM enrollees with mental health symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that MA enrollees with mental health symptoms were more likely to experience limited access to mental health services and high financial hardship compared to TM enrollees with mental health symptoms. There is a need to develop policies aimed at improving access to mental health services while reducing financial burden for MA enrollees.

Associations Between Patient Comfort with a Primary Care Provider and Three Measures of Behavioral Health Services Utilization.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral health services (BHS) can help improve and treat mental and emotional health problems. Yet, attitudinal and/or structural barriers often prevent individuals from accessing and benefiting from these services. Positive provider-patient interactions in healthcare, encompassing patient comfort with a primary care provider (PCP), which is often enhanced by shared decision-making, may mitigate the stigma associated with seeing a mental health professional; this may improve BHS utilization among patients who need these services. However, few studies have examined how patient comfort with a PCP, often through shared decision-making, may influence patients' BHS utilization in the real world. This study sought to address this gap in practice. METHOD: Multivariable regression analyses, using weighted data from an internet panel survey of Los Angeles County adults (n = 749), were carried out to examine the associations between patient comfort with a PCP and three measures of BHS utilization. Subsequent analyses were conducted to explore the extent to which shared decision-making moderated these associations. RESULTS: Participants who reported an intermediate or high comfort level with a provider had higher odds of reporting that they were likely to see (aOR = 2.10 and 3.84, respectively) and get advice (aOR = 2.75 and 4.76, respectively) from a mental health professional compared to participants who reported a low comfort level. Although shared decision-making influenced participants' likelihood of seeing and getting advice from a mental health professional, it was not a statistically significant moderator in these associations. CONCLUSION: Building stronger relationships with patients may improve BHS utilization, a provider practice that is likely underutilized.

Rates and correlates of study enrolment and use of a chatbot aimed to promote mental health services use for eating disorders following online screening.

OBJECTIVE: We developed a chatbot aimed to facilitate mental health services use for eating disorders (EDs) and offered the opportunity to enrol in a research study and use the chatbot to all adult respondents to a publicly available online ED screen who screened positive for clinical/subclinical EDs and reported not currently being in treatment. We examined the rates and correlates of enrolment in the study and uptake of the chatbot. METHOD: Following screening, eligible respondents (≥18 years, screened positive for a clinical/subclinical ED, not in treatment for an ED) were shown the study opportunity. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions explored differences in demographics, ED symptoms, suicidality, weight, and probable ED diagnoses between those who enroled and engaged with the chatbot versus those who did not. RESULTS: 6747 respondents were shown the opportunity (80.0% of all adult screens). 3.0% enroled, of whom 90.2% subsequently used the chatbot. Enrolment and chatbot uptake were more common among respondents aged ≥25 years old versus those aged 18-24 and less common among respondents who reported engaging in regular dietary restriction. CONCLUSIONS: Overall enrolment was low, yet uptake was high among those that enroled and did not differ across most demographics and symptom presentations. Future directions include evaluating respondents' attitudes towards treatment-promoting tools and removing barriers to uptake.

Barriers to mental health service utilization among Arab society in Israel: Perspectives from service providers.

This study attempted to identify the barriers to the utilization of mental health services among the Arab society in Israel, as perceived by professionals working with this population. Twenty-seven therapists from community mental health services participated in structured in-depth interviews with at least 5 years of experience. Five main types of barriers to the utilization of mental health services were discovered: barriers related to attitudes and perceptions regarding mental disorders and their treatment, low literacy in the field of mental health, exposure and stigma, family characteristics and cultural values, and instrumental barriers. Flexibility and sensitivity to the socio-cultural context of the target population while allocating resources to create equality in access to mental health care may increase the utilization of mental health services in a traditional society such as the Arab society in Israel.

Self-reported barriers to screening breast MRI among women at high risk for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Annual screening breast MRI is recommended for women at high (≥ 20% lifetime) breast cancer risk, but is underutilized. Guided by the Health Services Utilization Model (HSUM), we assessed factors associated with screening breast MRI among high-risk women. METHODS: From August 2020-January 2021, we recruited an online convenience sample of high-risk women ages 25-85 (N = 232). High-risk was defined as: pathogenic genetic mutation in self or first-degree relative; history of lobular carcinoma in situ; history of thoracic radiation; or estimated lifetime risk ≥ 20%. Participants self-reported predisposing factors (breast cancer knowledge, health locus of control), enabling factors (health insurance type, social support), need factors (perceived risk, screening-supportive social norms, provider recommendation), and prior receipt of screening breast MRI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with backward selection identified HSUM factors associated with receipt of screening breast MRI. RESULTS: About half (51%) of participants had received a provider recommendation for screening breast MRI; only 32% had ever received a breast MRI. Breast cancer knowledge (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.04-1.27) and screening-supportive social norms (OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.64-2.97) were positively related to breast MRI receipt. No other HSUM variables were associated with breast MRI receipt (all p's > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk women reported low uptake of screening breast MRI, indicating a gap in guideline-concordant care. Breast cancer knowledge and screening-supportive social norms are two key areas to target in future interventions. Data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic and generalizability of results is unclear. Future studies with larger, more heterogeneous samples are needed to replicate these findings.

Association of the Range of Outpatient Services Provided by Primary Care Physicians with Subsequent Health Care Costs and Utilization.

BACKGROUND: Broader primary care practice range of services (ROS), defined as the diversity of professional services delivered, is associated with lower utilization. ROS provided by individual primary care physicians (PCPs) varies considerably with unclear implications for patients. OBJECTIVES: Create a PCP-ROS measure covering six categories of outpatient services, including expanded codes for mental health counseling services and point of care ultrasound (POCUS) technology in physician offices. Determine whether PCP-ROS is associated with total Medicare expenditures, inpatient admissions, acute hospital utilization (AHU), and emergency department (ED) visits. Examine physician and practice characteristics associated with PCP-ROS. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 4,569,711 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries and 27,008 PCPs observed during the evaluation of the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC +) initiative. MEASUREMENTS: PCP-ROS, hospitalizations, AHU (includes observation stays as well as inpatient admissions), ED visits, and total Medicare expenditures. RESULTS: Physicians varied substantially in the range of services provided. Broader PCP-ROS was significantly, independently associated with 1 - 3% lower Medicare expenditures (p ≤ 0.01), inpatient admissions (p ≤ 0.027), AHU (p ≤ 0.025), and ED visit rates (p ≤ 0.000). PCP-ROS score was associated with improved patient outcomes, independent of physician provision of procedures (such as laceration repair or skin excisions). Physicians in practice sites affiliated with a hospital or health system had narrower PCP-ROS than independent physicians by 0.3 to 0.4 (p < 0.001). Internal medicine specialty was associated with narrower PCP-ROS than family medicine by 0.3 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients cared for by primary care physicians who provide a broader range of services subsequently experience lower acute care utilization and expenditures than do those cared for by physicians with narrower ROS. Practice leaders and professional associations should consider how best to ensure that primary care physicians efficiently and effectively provide the office-based professional services most needed by their patients.

Disparities and determinants of maternal health services utilization among women in poverty-stricken rural areas of China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Reducing maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has been a worldwide public health challenge for a long time. Utilization of maternal health services including antenatal care (ANC), institutional delivery (ID), and postnatal care (PNC) is vital to prevent maternal mortality. China has made significant improvements in maternal health during the past 30 years, however, disparities in maternal health service utilization still exist among regions and the western rural areas had the lowest utilization rate. This study aims to assess the inequality and determinants of maternal health service utilization in western poverty-stricken rural areas based on Anderson's Behavioral Model of Health Service Use and provide evidence-based suggestions to improve equity and coverage of maternal service utilization in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gansu and Yunnan Province, Western China using primary data (n = 996) collected by the research team. A multistage, judgment, quota sampling procedure was employed to select the participants of the survey. Trained local health staff formed an interview team to help respondents answer a structured, pre-tested questionnaire designed based on Anderson's model. Data collected through interviews were used for descriptive analysis, range analysis, and univariate and multivariate binary logistic analysis to identify influencing factors of 5 + ANC, 8 + ANC, ID, and 2 + PNC utilization. RESULTS: Place of residence, age, education level, annual income, and health education during ANC were influencing factors of 5 + ANC; place of residence, education level, per capita household income, conditional cash transfer (CCT) participation, and distance to health facilities were influencing factors of 8 + ANC; place of residence, education level, and availability of financial incentive programs were influencing factors of ID; number of children, health education during ANC, CCT projects participation, and self-rated health status were influencing factors of 2 + PNC. CONCLUSIONS: Inequalities in maternal service utilization exist between Yunnan and Gansu provinces. This study shows a strong association between both predisposing and enabling factors and maternal services utilization. Predisposing factors such as place of residence, education level, and number of children, enabling factors such as CCT participation, annual income, health education during ANC, and distance to health facilities along with need factor self-rated health status all contribute to maternal services utilization. We conclude that many factors influence maternal service utilization and interventions targeted at various levels should be considered. Therefore, we suggest more health resources should be invested in underutilized areas, financial incentive projects targeting pregnant women should be implemented, and health education should be provided to improve women's health literacy.

Concordance between 8-1-1 HealthLink BC Emergency iDoctor-in-assistance (HEiDi) virtual physician advice and subsequent health service utilization for callers to a nurse-managed provincial health information telephone service.

BACKGROUND: British Columbia 8-1-1 callers who are advised by a nurse to seek urgent medical care can be referred to virtual physicians (VPs) for supplemental assessment and advice. Prior research indicates callers' subsequent health service use may diverge from VP advice. We sought to 1) estimate concordance between VP advice and subsequent health service use, and 2) identify factors associated with concordance to understand potential drivers of discordant cases. METHODS: We linked relevant provincial administrative databases to obtain inpatient, outpatient, and emergency service use by callers. We developed operational definitions of concordance collaboratively with researcher, patient, VP, and management perspectives. We used Kaplan-Meier curves to describe health service use post-VP consultation and Cox regression to estimate the association of caller factors (rurality, demography, attachment to primary care) and call factors (reason, triage level, time of day) with concordance as hazard ratios. RESULTS: We analyzed 17,188 calls from November 16, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Callers advised to attend an emergency department (ED) immediately were the most concordant (73%) while concordance was lowest for those advised to seek Family Physician (FP) care either immediately (41%) or within 7 days (47%). Callers unattached to FPs were less likely to schedule an FP visit (hazard ratio = 0.76 [95%CI: 0.68-0.85]). Rural callers were less likely to attend an ED within 48 h when advised to go immediately (0.53 [95%CI:0.46-0.61]) compared to urban callers. Rural callers advised to see an FP, either immediately (1.28 [95%CI:1.01-1.62]) or within 7 days (1.23 [95%CI: 1.11-1.37]), were more likely to do so than urban callers. INTERPRETATION: Concordance between VP advice and subsequent caller health service use varies substantially by category of advice and caller rurality. Concordance with advice to "Go to ED" is high overall but to access primary care is below 50%, suggesting potential issues with timely access to FP care. Future research from a patient/caller centered perspective may reveal additional barriers and facilitators to concordance.

Area-specific covid-19 effects on health services utilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo using routine health information system data.

BACKGROUND: Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has shocked health systems worldwide. This analysis investigated the effects of the pandemic on basic health services utilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and examined the variability of COVID effects in the capital city Kinshasa, in other urban areas, and in rural areas. METHODS: We estimated time trends models using national health information system data to replicate pre-COVID-19 (i.e., January 2017-February 2020) trajectories of health service utilization, and then used those models to estimate what the levels would have been in the absence of COVID-19 during the pandemic period, starting in March 2020 through March 2021. We classified the difference between the observed and predicted levels as the effect of COVID-19 on health services. We estimated 95% confidence intervals and p-values to examine if the effect of the pandemic, nationally and within specific geographies, was statistically significant. RESULTS: Our results indicate that COVID-19 negatively impacted health services and subsequent recovery varied by service type and by geographical area. COVID-19 had a lasting impact on overall service utilization as well as on malaria and pneumonia-related visits among young children in the DRC. We also found that the effects of COVID-19 were even more immediate and stronger in the capital city of Kinshasa compared with the national effect. Both nationally and in Kinshasa, most affected services had slow and incomplete recovery to expected levels. Therefore, our analysis indicates that COVID-19 continued to affect health services in the DRC throughout the first year of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology used in this article allows for examining the variability in magnitude, timing, and duration of the COVID effects within geographical areas of the DRC and nationally. This analytical procedure based on national health information system data could be applied to surveil health service disruptions and better inform rapid responses from health service managers and policymakers.

DNP preparation of primary care nurse practitioners and clinical outcomes for patients with chronic conditions.

BACKGROUND: Many professional nursing organizations have proposed that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the most appropriate entry-level degree for nurse practitioners (NPs). There have been no studies to date examining the impact of DNP preparation on quality of care or patient outcomes. PURPOSE: To examine differences in emergency department utilization and hospitalizations among patients with chronic conditions cared for by Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)- and DNP-prepared primary care NPs. METHODS: We use survey data from over 1,000 primary care NPs in 6 states linked to Medicare claims data. Using regression models, we controlled for various patient, NP, and practice characteristics that might confound the relationship. RESULS: We find that patient outcomes are not statistically different between patients attributed to MSN- and DNP-prepared primary care NPs. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that there remains little evidence that DNP education has led to significant improvements in patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Further empirical analysis related to the clinical outcomes other than health care utilization of the DNP degree is warranted. Future studies might consider examining (a) NPs in settings other than primary care, (b) practice-wide or system-wide outcomes, (c) other measures of care quality, and (d) impact of DNP program content.

The impact of oral health literacy on dental anxiety and utilization of oral health services among dental patients: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Low oral health literacy levels and deficient oral health knowledge jeopardize the communication between dentists and patients in different communities. This study aimed to examine the impact and association of oral health literacy with patients' levels of dental anxiety and their utilization of dental health services. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Misr International University (MIU) dental clinics. The study utilized a structured, interview led questionnaire that was administered by second year dental students, over the period of two successive academic years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. A total of 440 student interviewed a convenience sample of 440 dental patients: including 269 females (61.1%) and 171 males (38.9%). The questionnaire consisted of four sections; a demographic section, a modified Arabic Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy (ARELAD-30) Tool that measures the ability of the participants to read 30 commonly used dental terms. This questionnaire was modified by the authors to measure the participants' knowledge by asking them to choose the most accurate meaning for each word based on their previous knowledge. Scoring was dependent on the participant's immediate correct pronunciation, as well as comprehension of each word. The Arabic Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (AMDAS) was used to measure the level of dental anxiety, and the dental health service utilization was measured using the Utilization of oral health services questionnaire. RESULTS: One quarter (24.1%) of the participants read the 30 items of the A-REALD correctly. The average percentage of correct responses to the meaning of the dental terms was 71.2%. There was no statistically significant association between A-REALD and knowledge scores (Spearman's Correlation coefficient ρ = -0.008, p-value = 0.872). There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between age and MDAS (Correlation coefficient ρ = -0.146, p-value = 0.002). A-REALD scores were inversely correlated with time since last visit (Regression coefficient = -0.027, p-value = 0.036, with 95% CI: -0.052 - -0.002). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that oral health literacy is significantly associated to dental health services utilization, while, dental anxiety is related to other variables, such as age and gender.

Barriers and facilitators to reproductive health service utilization in Cote d'Ivoire: A community-based qualitative study / Barrières et facilitateurs de l'utilisation des services de santé de la reproduction en Côte d'Ivoire : une étude qualitative auprès de la communauté

Introduction: Improving Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) indicators is a challenge for health systems, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to the use of RMNCAH+N services in areas with low indicators in Cote d'Ivoire. Methods: A qualitative case study was conducted in September 2021, with 76 beneficiaries of RMNCAH+N services in the health districts of Boundiali, Toulepleu and Tanda. Individual interviews (09) and focus groups (09) were conducted with community leaders/tradi-practitioners/midwives and pregnant women/ women of childbearing age/men who have or are responsible for a child under the age of 5, respectively. A thematic analysis was performed after coding the data in NVivo 12. Results: Barriers to utilization of RMNCAH+N services were unavailability of certain equipment/amenities, disrespectful care in some RMNCAH+N services, women's lack of financial autonomy, lack of autonomy in decision making, and male healthcare providers. Facilitators identified were geographic accessibility, men's involvement in the mother-child dyad's health, and community awareness. Conclusion: Improving utilization of RMNCAH+N services requires the implementation of interventions that address these barriers and facilitators, such as raising community awareness of RMNCAH+N services and promoting respectful, patient-centered, humanized care among healthcare providers.

Introduction: L'amélioration des indicateurs de santé reproductive, maternelle, néonatale, infantile et adolescente et de la nutrition (SRMNIA+N) représente un challenge pour les systèmes de santé, principalement ceux des pays d'Afrique subsaharienne. Cette étude avait pour objectif d'identifier les barrières et facilitateurs à l'utilisation des services de SRMNIA+N dans les zones à faibles indicateurs en Côte d'Ivoire. Méthodes: Une étude de cas par approche qualitative auprès de 76 bénéficiaires des services de SRMNIA+N a été menée en septembre 2021 dans les districts sanitaires de Boundiali, Toulepleu et Tanda. Des entretiens individuels et des discussions de groupe (focus groups) ont été organisés respectivement auprès des leaders communautaires, tradipraticiens ou matrones et des femmes enceintes ou en âge de procréer et des hommes ayant la charge d'un enfant de moins de 5 ans. Une analyse thématique a été réalisée après codage des données dans NVivo 12. Résultats: Les barrières à l'utilisation des services de SRMNIA+N étaient la non-disponibilité de certains équipements ou commodités, les soins irrespectueux dans certains services de SRMNIA+N, le manque d'autonomie financière et/ou décisionnelle des femmes et la présence de prestataires de sexe masculin. Les facilitateurs identifiés étaient : l'accessibilité géographique, l'implication des hommes dans la santé du couple mère/enfant, la sensibilisation de la population. Conclusion: L'amélioration de l'utilisation des services de SRMNIA+N nécessite la mise en œuvre d'interventions adressant ces barrières et facilitateurs tels que la sensibilisation de la communauté sur les services de SRMNIA+N, la promotion auprès des prestataires de santé des soins humanisés respectueux et centrés sur le patient.

Estimating the Impact of Medicaid Expansion and Federal Funding Cuts on FQHC Staffing and Patient Capacity.

Policy Points In the preexpansion period, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Medicaid expansion states were significantly different from those in nonexpansion states. This gap widened as revenues in expansion states continued to grow at a faster rate after the expansion. If Medicaid expansion had occurred nationwide, FQHCs' revenue and capacity could have increased substantially. Over time, Medicaid could play a bigger role as it becomes a more stable funding source to allow for capital investments. Section 330 grants appear to have a larger impact on access to care. Given the varying levels of reliance on Medicaid, investing through federal grants might be more effective and equitable. CONTEXT: The Health Resources and Services Administration's Health Center Program (HCP) plays a critical role as the national ambulatory safety net, delivering services to patients in medically underserved areas, regardless of their ability to pay. As the program has grown, health policy initiatives may have altered access to care for the underserved population. Understanding how federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) have been affected by past policies is important for anticipating the effects of future policies. METHODS: By analyzing a national data set from the Uniform Data System, we examined, using two sets of random effects regressions, the potential impact of alternative policy actions affecting FQHCs. Our primary equation models the number of full-time equivalent staff, of patients served, and of visits provided in the subsequent year as a function of Medicaid revenues, Section 330 grants, and other revenues. Our secondary equation is a difference-in-differences analysis that models Medicaid revenues as a function of the states' status of Medicaid expansion. FINDINGS: The expansion of Medicaid in nonexpansion states could have increased Medicaid revenues by 138%, staffing by 25%, and patients' visits by 24% in 2017. Compared to the impact of a "repeal" of Medicaid expansion, the percentage of reductions in staffing would be similar to those predicted by a 50% cut in Medicaid revenues or in Section 330 grants. On a dollar-for-dollar basis, the effects of one dollar of Section 330 grants were more than double that of one dollar of Medicaid revenue. CONCLUSIONS: Both Medicaid eligibility and Section 330 funding support are important to the HCP, and Section 330 grants are particularly closely related to staffing and the provision of services. States' decisions not to participate in or to repeal Medicaid expansion, to reduce Medicaid payment rates, and federal funding cuts all could have a negative impact on FQHCs, resulting in thousands of low-income patients losing access to primary care.

Mental health service use among migrant and Swedish-born children and youth: a register-based cohort study of 472,129 individuals in Stockholm.

PURPOSE: Migrant children underutilize mental health services (MHS), but differences according to age, reason for migration, type of problem, and time have not been thoroughly analyzed. We aimed to explore utilization of MHS among migrant children and youth and to study if the hypothesized lower utilization could be explained by fewer neurodevelopmental assessments. METHODS: A cohort of the population aged 0-24 years in Stockholm, comprising 472,129 individuals were followed for maximum 10 years, between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2015. We categorized individuals as accompanied refugee migrants, unaccompanied refugee migrants and non-refugee migrants, or Swedish-born. We used survival and logistic analyses to estimate rates of utilization of MHS. RESULTS: Migrant children and youth utilized less MHS than the majority population, with hazard ratios ranging from 0.62 (95% CI: 0.57; 0.67) to 0.72 (95% CI: 0.69; 0.76). Refugee and non-refugee children utilized less mental health care than their Swedish peers, apart from the youngest refugees (0-10 years) who had similar utilization as Swedish-born. The lower rates were partly explained by all migrant youths' lower risk of being diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition. Time in Sweden had a major impact, such that unaccompanied refugee minors had a higher utilization in their first 2 years in Sweden (OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 2.96; 3.85). CONCLUSION: Migrant youth use less MHS compared with native-born peers, and this is partly explained by fewer neurodevelopmental diagnoses. Strengthening the awareness about unmet needs, and the referring capacity by professionals in contact with migrant children could help reduce barriers to care.

"It feels like an endless fight": a qualitative study exploring healthcare utilization of persons with rheumatic conditions waiting for pain clinic admission.

BACKGROUND: Individuals living with a rheumatic pain condition can face delays in accessing pain clinics, which prevents them from receiving timely treatment. Little is known regarding their specific healthcare utilization in order to alleviate pain while waiting to obtain services in pain clinics. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of persons living with rheumatic conditions regarding healthcare utilization while waiting to access a pain clinic. METHODS: In this qualitative descriptive study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults living with a painful rheumatic condition that reported either being waiting for admission in a pain clinic, having been referred but then denied pain clinic services, or having received services during the previous six months, in the province of Quebec, Canada. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and an inductive thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-six individuals were interviewed (22 women and 4 men; mean age 54 ± 10 years). Three themes were identified: 1) lacking guidance in identifying solutions to their complex and multidimensional needs, 2) struggling to obtain and maintain services due to systemic access barriers, and 3) displaying resilience through a search for accessible and sustainable self-management strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The current approaches and structures of health services fail to adequately answer the service needs of individuals experiencing painful rheumatic conditions. Important shifts are required in pain education, in increasing access to multidisciplinary approaches at the primary care level and in breaking down barriers individuals with chronic pain face to receive appropriate and timely care.

Male Caregivers and Engagement in a Family Strengthening Program for Child Disruptive Behavior Disorders.

Awareness and interest in involving male caregivers in child mental health treatment has grown, especially for youth with disruptive behavior disorders like oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between male caregiver involvement and treatment engagement for child ODD. Children (n = 122) ages 7-11 and their caregivers participated in the 4 Rs 2 Ss Strengthening Families Program for child-onset ODD. Families were compared based on male caregiver presence. Families with a male caregiver were significantly more resourced with respect to income, educational status, and food security. Additionally, they were over three times less likely to drop out of the program than those without a male caregiver. The presence of a male caregiver was associated with increased resources and higher rates of engagement in services than single, female-headed families. Future research is needed to discern the underlying mechanisms of this association.

Maternal and Child Health Benefits of the Mamata Conditional Cash Transfer Program in Odisha, India.

BACKGROUND: Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) are demand-side interventions that link cash receipt to fulfilment of health-promoting conditions such as regular health check-ups and investment in human capital. In 2011, the Indian state of Odisha, implemented a statewide CCT program-the Mamata Scheme-towards improving maternal/child health outcomes and promoting health-seeking behavior. Mamata targets pregnant and lactating women aged ≥19 y, and provides a sizable financial incentive relative to household income levels. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to longitudinally examine whether, and to what extent, initiation of the Mamata scheme corresponded with changes in health and nutrition outcomes in Odisha, relative to comparison states in India. METHODS: Outcomes included maternal health service utilization [antenatal care (ANC), iron-folic acid supplementation, breastfeeding counseling, full child immunization, tetanus vaccination, vitamin A supplementation] and nutrition [anemia during pregnancy and stunting, anemia in children <5 y old (U5)]. Data on outcomes and covariates were obtained from 3 waves of India's National Family Health Surveys corresponding to the years 1999, 2006, and 2016. We used difference-in-differences (DID) estimation strategy to estimate the impact of the program. RESULTS: The pooled sampled size comprised >200,000 mother-child dyads. Tests of parallel trends indicated that preintervention trends were similar across all outcomes in Odisha with the exception of anemia. When comparing Odisha with other states for health services, DID models indicated that exposure to Mamata corresponded with increased odds of counseling for breastfeeding (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.97, 3.80), ANC receipt (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.99), and full immunization (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.08). DID models also indicated decline in stunting (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.02) and anemia (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.71) among U5 children in Odisha following Mamata, relative to comparison states. Models comparing poor with nonpoor groups indicated the presence of heterogeneous effects. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides proof-of-concept for potential improvements in maternal and child nutrition outcomes following CCTs that incentivize health care utilization in India.

Health care utilization by women sexual assault survivors after emergency care: Results of a multisite prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately, 100,000 US women receive emergency care after sexual assault each year, but no large-scale study has examined the incidence of posttraumatic sequelae, receipt of health care, and frequency of assault disclosure to providers. The current study evaluated health outcomes and service utilization among women in the 6 weeks after sexual assault. METHODS: Women ≥18 years of age presenting for emergency care after sexual assault to twelve sites were approached. Among those willing to be contacted for the study (n = 1080), 706 were enrolled. Health outcomes, health care utilization, and assault disclosure were assessed via 6 week survey. RESULTS: Three quarters (76%) of women had posttraumatic stress, depression, or anxiety, and 65% had pain. Less than two in five reported seeing health care provider; receipt of care was not related to substantive differences in symptoms and was less likely among Hispanic women and women with a high school education or less. Nearly one in four who saw a primary care provider did not disclose their assault, often due to shame, embarrassment, or fear of being judged. CONCLUSION: Most women receiving emergency care after sexual assault experience substantial posttraumatic sequelae, but health care in the 6 weeks after assault is uncommon, unrelated to substantive differences in need, and limited in socially disadvantaged groups. Lack of disclosure to primary care providers was common among women who did receive care.

Sociodemographic disparities in the establishment of health records among 0.5 million migrants from 2014 to 2017 in China: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Migrants account for a large part of China's population. Many policies and inventions have been taken to improve access to public health services and the health of migrants. China's Basic Public Health Services(BPHS) are a series of public health services in this policy domain, which aims at promoting the access of public health sevices and improve health equity of residents. The establishment of health records is the fundamental service of BPHS. However, there is little known about the establishment of health records among migrants in China, which hinders the more efficient provision of health services for migrants, and health equity is difficult to achieve. Based on the research gap, this study aims at showing the sociodemographic disparities in the establishment rate of health records, and identifying priorities and recommendations for promoting health equity of migrants in China. METHODS: This study used national data from China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) from 2014 to 2017 to evaluate the sociodemographic disparities in the establishment rate of health records and utilization of relevant public health services. The study included 539,926 respondents. Following the descriptive statistics of migrants, we showed the establishment rate of health records by sociodemographic characteristics and migrating related characteristics. Multivariate analysis was conducted to explore the associations between sociodemographic charicteristics, migrating related charicteristics and the establishment of health records. RESULTS: The establishment rate of health records among migrants in the sampled years were 22.99, 38.44, 27.29% respectively, and 29.18% in general, and there existed heterogeneity in the establishment rate of health records by sociodemographic charicteristics and migrating related charicteristics. Female migrants who were older, from middle age, married or living with partner, with higher educational attainment, with urban household registration, migrated for longer time, migrated for the reason of studying or family issues, migrated in province were more likely to establish health records. CONCLUSION: There existed sociodemographic disparities in the establishment rate of health records and inequalities in the utilization of health records services among migrants in China. Migrating related characteristics also had impact on the establishment status. Policies should take both supply side and demand side of health services to improve the health equity of migrants, which means that relative departments should continue to invest in primary healthcare centers to improve their ability to provide services as well as migrants' health literacy.

The benefits of an integrated social medical insurance for health services utilization in rural China: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Improving health equity is a fundamental goal for establishing social health insurance. This article evaluated the benefits of the Integration of Social Medical Insurance (ISMI) policy for health services utilization in rural China. METHODS: Using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal study (2011‒2018), we estimated the changes in rates and equity in health services utilization by a generalized linear mixed model, concentration curves, concentration indices, and a horizontal inequity index before and after the introduction of the ISMI policy. RESULTS: For the changes in rates, the generalized linear mixed model showed that the rate of inpatient health services utilization (IHSU) nearly doubled after the introduction of the ISMI policy (8.78 % vs. 16.58 %), while the rate of outpatient health services utilization (OHSU) decreased (20.25 % vs. 16.35 %) after the implementation of the policy. For the changes in inequity, the concentration index of OHSU decreased significantly from - 0.0636 (95 % CL: -0.0846, - 0.0430) before the policy to - 0.0457 (95 % CL: -0.0684, - 0.0229) after it. In addition, the horizontal inequity index decreased from - 0.0284 before the implementation of the policy to - 0.0171 after it, indicating that the inequity of OHSU was further reduced. The concentration index of IHSU increased significantly from - 0.0532 (95 % CL: -0.0868, - 0.0196) before the policy was implemented to - 0.1105 (95 % CL: -0.1333, - 0.0876) afterwards; the horizontal inequity index of IHSU increased from - 0.0066 before policy implementation to - 0.0595 afterwards, indicating that more low-income participants utilized inpatient services after the policy came into effect. CONCLUSIONS: The ISMI policy had a positive effect on improving the rate of IHSU but not on the rate of OHSU. This is in line with this policy's original intention of focusing on inpatient service rather than outpatients to achieve its principal goal of preventing catastrophic health expenditure. The ISMI policy had a positive effect on reducing the inequity in OHSU but a negative effect on the decrease in inequity in IHSU. Further research is needed to verify this change. This research on the effects of integration policy implementation may be useful to policy makers and has important policy implications for other developing countries facing similar challenges on the road to universal health coverage.