Academic global surgical competencies: A modified Delphi consensus study.

Academic global surgery is a rapidly growing field that aims to improve access to safe surgical care worldwide. However, no universally accepted competencies exist to inform this developing field. A consensus-based approach, with input from a diverse group of experts, is needed to identify essential competencies that will lead to standardization in this field. A task force was set up using snowball sampling to recruit a broad group of content and context experts in global surgical and perioperative care. A draft set of competencies was revised through the modified Delphi process with two rounds of anonymous input. A threshold of 80% consensus was used to determine whether a competency or sub-competency learning objective was relevant to the skillset needed within academic global surgery and perioperative care. A diverse task force recruited experts from 22 countries to participate in both rounds of the Delphi process. Of the n = 59 respondents completing both rounds of iterative polling, 63% were from low- or middle-income countries. After two rounds of anonymous feedback, participants reached consensus on nine core competencies and 31 sub-competency objectives. The greatest consensus pertained to competency in ethics and professionalism in global surgery (100%) with emphasis on justice, equity, and decolonization across multiple competencies. This Delphi process, with input from experts worldwide, identified nine competencies which can be used to develop standardized academic global surgery and perioperative care curricula worldwide. Further work needs to be done to validate these competencies and establish assessments to ensure that they are taught effectively.

Association between Surgery, Anesthesia, and Obstetric Workforce and Emergent Surgical and Obstetric Mortality among United States Hospital Referral Regions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between SAO workforce and mortality from emergent surgical and obstetric conditions within US HR Rs. BACKGROUND: SAO workforce per capita has been identified as a core metric of surgical capacity by the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, but its utility has not been assessed at the subnational level for a high-income country. METHODS: The number of practicing surgeons, anesthesiologists, and obstetricians per capita was estimated for all HRRs using the US Health Resources & Services Administration Area Health Resource File Database. Deaths due to emergent general surgical and obstetric conditions were determined from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER database. We utilized B-spline quantile regression to model the relationship between SAO workforce and emergent surgical mortality at different quantiles of mortality and calculated the expected change in mortality associated with increases in SAO workforce. RESULTS: The median SAO workforce across all HRRs was 74.2 per 100,000 population (interquartile range 33.3-241.0). All HRRs met the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery lower target of 20 SAO per 100,000, and 97.7% met the upper target of 40 per 100,000. Nearly 2.8 million Americans lived in HRRs with fewer than 40 SAO per 100,000. Increases in SAO workforce were associated with decreases in surgical mortality in HRRs with high mortality, with minimal additional decreases in mortality above 60 to 80 SAO per 100,000. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing SAO workforce capacity may reduce emergent surgical and obstetric mortality in regions with high surgical mortality but diminishing returns may be seen above 60 to 80 SAO per 100,000. Trial Registration: N/A.

Rethinking referral systems in rural chiapas: A mixed methods study.

Background: Despite the assurance of universal health coverage, large disparities exist in access to surgery in the state of Chiapas. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the surgical referral system at hospitals operated by the Ministry of Health in Chiapas. Methods: 13 variables were extracted from surgical referrals data from three public hospitals in Chiapas over a three-year period. Interviews were performed of health care workers involved in the referral system and surgical patients. The quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed convergently and reported using a narrative approach. Findings: In total, only 47.4% of referred patients requiring surgery received an operation. Requiring an elective, gynecological, or orthopedic surgery and each additional surgery cancellation were significantly associated with lower rates of receiving surgery. The impact of gender and surgical specialty, economic fragility of farmers, dependence upon economic resources to access care, pain leading people to seek care, and futility leading patients to abandon the public system were identified as main themes from the mixed methods analysis. Interpretation: Surgical referral patients in Chiapas struggle to navigate an inefficient and expensive system, leading to delayed care and forcing many patients to turn to the private health system. These mixed methods findings provide a detailed view of often overlooked limitations to universal health coverage in Chiapas. Moving forward, this knowledge must be applied to improve referral system coordination and provide hospitals with the necessary workforce, equipment, and protocols to ensure access to guaranteed care. Funding: Harvard University and the Abundance Fund provided funding for this project. Funding sources had no role in the writing of the manuscript or decision to submit it for publication.

Surgical capacity assessment in the state of Amazonas using the surgical assessment tool. Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Brazil is a country with universal health coverage, yet access to surgery among remote rural populations remains understudied. This study assesses surgical care capacity among hospitals providing care for the rural populations in the Amazonas state of Brazil through in-depth facility assessments. METHODS: a stratified randomized cross-sectional evaluation of hospitals that self-report providing surgical care in Amazonas was conducted from July 2016 to March 2017. The Surgical Assessment Tool (SAT) developed by the World Health Organization and the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School was administered at remote hospitals, including a retrospective review of medical records and operative logbooks. RESULTS: 18 hospitals were surveyed. Three hospitals (16.6%) had no operating rooms and 12 (66%) had 1-2 operating rooms. 14 hospitals (77.8%) reported monitoring by pulse oximetry was always present and six hospitals (33%) never have a professional anesthesiologist available. Inhaled general anesthesia was available in 12 hospitals (66.7%), but 77.8% did not have any mechanical ventilation device. An average of 257 procedures per 100,000 were performed. 10 hospitals (55.6%) do not have a specific post-anesthesia care unit. For the regions covered by the 18 hospitals, with a population of 497,492 inhabitants, the average surgeon, anesthetist, obstetric workforce density was 6.4. CONCLUSION: populations living in rural areas in Brazil face significant disparities in access to surgical care, despite the presence of universal health coverage. Development of a state plan for the implementation of surgery is necessary to ensure access to surgical care for rural populations.

Patient-perceived barriers to surgical treatment of cleft lip and palate in Brazil: A multi-region study.

INTRODUCTION: Many patients worldwide are unable to access timely primary repair of cleft lip and palate. The aim of this study was to assess patient-perceived barriers to accessing timely cleft lip and palate repair across Brazil. METHODS: A 29-item questionnaire was applied to patients undergoing surgery for cleft lip and/or palate across five contrasting sites in Brazil from February 2016 to November 2017. Differences in patient timelines, demographics, and patient-reported barriers were compared by region. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of delayed care. RESULTS: Of 181 patients, 42% of patients received timely primary surgical repair. The age of the patient at the interview was 82 months (standard deviation [SD] 107) and 52% were male. The majority of delays occurred between diagnosis and primary surgical repair. The mean number of barriers to accessing timely surgical care cited by each patient was 3.77. The most common barrier was perceived "lack of hospitals that provided the surgery in my area" (48% (n = 86)). Univariate logistic regression showed increased odds of receiving late care in the state of Amazonas (odds ratio [OR] 2.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-7.96; P = 0.037) or Para (OR 4.46; 95% CI 1.09-19.70; P = 0.037). Multivariate logistic regression determined predictors of delayed care to be female sex (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.05-3.99; P = 0.035) and perceived poor availability of care (OR = 0.045; 95% CI 1.02-4.37; P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients in Brazil are not receiving timely primary repair of their clefts. Improvements in the coordination of care, patient education and patient empowerment are required.

Interpersonal challenges in surgical care provision in rural Mexico: A qualitative study.

Background: Chiapas is among the states with the lowest access to health care in Mexico. A better understanding of the role of interpersonal relationships in referral systems could improve access to care in the region. The purpose of this study was to analyze the underlying barriers and facilitators to accessing surgical care at public hospitals run by the Ministry of Health in Chiapas. Methods: In this qualitative interview study, we performed semi-structured interviews with 19 surgical patients and 18 healthcare workers at three public hospitals in the Fraylesca Region of Chiapas to explore barriers and facilitators to successfully accessing surgical treatment. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using an inductive, thematic approach to data analysis. Findings: The five major themes identified as barriers to surgical care were dehumanization of patients, the toll of rehumanizing patients, animosity in the system, the refraction of violence onto patients, and poor resource coordination. Three themes identified as facilitators to receiving care were teamwork, social capital, and accompaniment. Interpretation: Health care workers described a culture of demoralization and mistrust within the health system worsened by a scarcity of resources. As a result, patient care is hampered by conflict, miscommunication, and feelings of dehumanization. Efforts to improve access to surgical care in the region should consider strategies to improve teamwork and expand patient accompaniment. Funding: Harvard University and the Abundance Fund provided funding for this project. Funding sources had no role in the writing of the manuscript or decision to submit it for publication.Resumen. Antecedentes: Chiapas es uno de los estados en Mexico con el menor acceso a la atención médica, y a los servicios quirúrgicos. Una mejor comprensión del papel de las relaciones interpersonales en los sistemas de referencias podría mejorar el acceso a la atención medica en la región. El objetivo del estudio es analizar las barreras y facilitadores para acceder a la atención quirúrgica en los hospitales públicos pertenecientes a la Secretaria de Salud del estado de Chiapas. Método: En este estudio cualitativo, realizamos entrevistas semiestructuradas con 19 pacientes quirúrgicos y 18 trabajadores de la salud en tres hospitales públicos en la región de la Frailesca de Chiapas para explorar barreras y facilitadores para acceder al tratamiento quirúrgico. Las transcripciones se codificaron y analizaron utilizando un enfoque temático. Resultados: Las cinco barreras principales identificadas fueron la deshumanización de los pacientes, el costo a re humanizar pacientes, la animosidad en el sistema, la refracción de la violencia sobre los pacientes y la mala coordinación de recursos. Tres facilitadores para recibir cirugía fueron el trabajo en equipo, el capital social, y el acompañamiento. Interpretaciones: Los trabajadores de la salud describieron una cultura de desmoralización y desconfianza en el sistema de salud que se agrava con la escasez de recursos. Como resultado se obtiene, conflicto, falta de comunicación, y sentimientos de deshumanización que empeoran la atención al paciente. Recomendaciones para mejorar el acceso a los servicios quirúrgicos en la región incluyen estrategias para mejorar el trabajo en equipo y ampliar el acompañamiento de los pacientes. Financiamiento: La Universidad de Harvard y the Abundance Fund proporcionaron fondos para este proyecto. Las fuentes de financiamiento no influyen en la redacción ni en la publicación del manuscrito.

Surgical capacity assessment in the state of Amazonas using the surgical assessment tool. Cross-sectional study / Avaliação da capacidade cirúrgica do estado do Amazonas utilizando uma ferramenta de avaliação cirúrgica. Estudo transversal

ABSTRACT Objective: Brazil is a country with universal health coverage, yet access to surgery among remote rural populations remains understudied. This study assesses surgical care capacity among hospitals providing care for the rural populations in the Amazonas state of Brazil through in-depth facility assessments. Methods: a stratified randomized cross-sectional evaluation of hospitals that self-report providing surgical care in Amazonas was conducted from July 2016 to March 2017. The Surgical Assessment Tool (SAT) developed by the World Health Organization and the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School was administered at remote hospitals, including a retrospective review of medical records and operative logbooks. Results: 18 hospitals were surveyed. Three hospitals (16.6%) had no operating rooms and 12 (66%) had 1-2 operating rooms. 14 hospitals (77.8%) reported monitoring by pulse oximetry was always present and six hospitals (33%) never have a professional anesthesiologist available. Inhaled general anesthesia was available in 12 hospitals (66.7%), but 77.8% did not have any mechanical ventilation device. An average of 257 procedures per 100,000 were performed. 10 hospitals (55.6%) do not have a specific post-anesthesia care unit. For the regions covered by the 18 hospitals, with a population of 497,492 inhabitants, the average surgeon, anesthetist, obstetric workforce density was 6.4. Conclusion: populations living in rural areas in Brazil face significant disparities in access to surgical care, despite the presence of universal health coverage. Development of a state plan for the implementation of surgery is necessary to ensure access to surgical care for rural populations.

RESUMO Objetivo: o Brasil é um país com cobertura universal de saúde, mas o acesso à cirurgia entre populações remotas permanece pouco estudado. Este estudo avalia a capacidade cirúrgica em hospitais que servem populações rurais no estado do Amazonas, Brasil, por meio de avaliações aprofundadas das instalações. Métodos: foi realizada avaliação estratificada randomizada transversal de hospitais que relataram prestar assistência cirúrgica de julho de 2016 a março de 2017. A Ferramenta de Avaliação Cirúrgica desenvolvida pela Organização Mundial da Saúde e o Programa de Cirurgia Global e Mudança Social da Harvard Medical School foi administrada em hospitais remotos, incluindo uma revisão retrospectiva de registros médicos e livros cirúrgicos. Resultados: 18 hospitais foram pesquisados. Três hospitais (16,6%) não tinham salas cirúrgicas e 12 (66%) tinham 1-2. 14 hospitais (77,8%) relataram que a oximetria de pulso estava "sempre presente" e seis hospitais (33%) nunca têm um anestesiologista disponível. A anestesia inalatória estava disponível em 12 hospitais (66,7%), 77,8% não possuíam dispositivo de ventilação mecânica. Em média, 257 procedimentos por 100.000 foram realizados. 10 hospitais (55,6%) não possuem unidade de recuperação anestésica. Para as regiões de abrangência dos 18 hospitais, com população de 497.492 habitantes, a densidade média de força de trabalho cirúrgica, anestesista e obstétrica foi de 6,4. Conclusão: as populações que vivem em áreas rurais no Brasil enfrentam disparidades significativas no acesso à assistência cirúrgica, apesar da presença de cobertura universal de saúde. O desenvolvimento de um plano estadual de cirurgia é necessário para garantir acesso à assistência cirúrgica às populações rurais.

The Development and Inclusion of Questions on Surgery in the 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: While primary data on the unmet need for surgery in low- and middle-income countries is lacking, household surveys could provide an entry point to collect such data. We describe the first development and inclusion of questions on surgery in a nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in Zambia. METHOD: Questions regarding surgical conditions were developed through an iterative consultative process and integrated into the rollout of the DHS survey in Zambia in 2018 and administered to a nationwide sample survey of eligible women aged 15-49 years and men aged 15-59 years. RESULTS: In total, 7 questions covering 4 themes of service delivery, diagnosed burden of surgical disease, access to care, and quality of care were added. The questions were administered across 12,831 households (13,683 women aged 15-49 years and 12,132 men aged 15-59 years). Results showed that approximately 5% of women and 2% of men had undergone an operation in the past 5 years. Among women, cesarean delivery was the most common surgery; circumcision was the most common procedure among men. In the past 5 years, an estimated 0.61% of the population had been told by a health care worker that they might need surgery, and of this group, 35% had undergone the relevant procedure. CONCLUSION: For the first time, questions on surgery have been included in a nationwide DHS. We have shown that it is feasible to integrate these questions into a large-scale survey to provide insight into surgical needs at a national level. Based on the DHS design and implementation mechanisms, a country interested in including a set of questions like the one included in Zambia, could replicate this data collection in other settings, which provides an opportunity for systematic collection of comparable surgical data, a vital role in surgical health care system strengthening.

Assessment of surgical capacity in Chiapas, Mexico: a cross-sectional study of the public and private sector.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical, anaesthesia and obstetric (SAO) care are essential, life-saving components of universal healthcare. In Chiapas, Mexico's southernmost state, the capacity of SAO care is unknown. This study aims to assess the surgical capacity in Chiapas, Mexico, as it relates to access, infrastructure, service delivery, surgical volume, quality, workforce and financial risk protection. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of Ministry of Health public hospitals and private hospitals in Chiapas was performed. The translated Surgical Assessment Tool (SAT) was implemented in sampled hospitals. Surgical volume was collected retrospectively from hospital logbooks. Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare public and private hospitals. Catastrophic expenditure from surgical care was calculated. RESULTS: Data were collected from 17 public hospitals and 20 private hospitals in Chiapas. Private hospitals were smaller than public hospitals and public hospitals performed more surgeries per operating room. Not all hospitals reported consistent electricity, running water or oxygen, but private hospitals were more likely to have these basic infrastructure components compared with public hospitals (84% vs 95%; 60% vs 100%; 94.1% vs 100%, respectively). Bellwether surgical procedures performed in private hospitals cost significantly more, and posed a higher risk of catastrophic expenditure, than those performed in public hospitals. CONCLUSION: Capacity limitations are greater in public hospitals compared with private hospitals. However, the cost of care in the private sector is significantly higher than the public sector and may result in catastrophic expenditures. Targeted interventions to improve the infrastructure, workforce availability and data collection are needed.

Referral Process for Surgical Management of Tuberculosis in Lima: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Lung resection surgery can be a complementary therapy for managing tuberculosis (TB) complications, but access is lacking in high-burden areas. The referral process for surgical evaluation is not well described. This study aimed to elucidate the TB surgery referral process in Peru. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups and interviews of health care providers from the Peruvian National TB Program. A semi-structured interview guide was developed with local partners. Focus groups and individual interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to reconstruct the referral process and identify barriers as well as areas for improvement. RESULTS: A total of 12 sessions were recorded (7 interviews and 5 focus groups; 36 participants total). The main themes identified were: (1) Surgical referral workflow, (2) Unstandardized selection criteria for surgery, (3) Limited inter-institutional communication, and (4) Material barriers to surgical management. CONCLUSION: Health care providers involved in the referral process of surgical management of tuberculosis in Lima reported a hierarchical referral workflow. Interinstitutional communication may be a critical interventional point to improve a patient's quality of care during the referral process.

Implementation of a checklist to improve pediatric trauma assessment quality in a Brazilian hospital.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in Brazil. Measurement of quality of care is important, as well as interventions that will help optimize treatment. We aimed to evaluate adherence to standardized trauma care following the introduction of a checklist in one of the busiest Latin American trauma centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, non-randomized interventional trial was conducted. Assessment of children younger than age 15 was performed before and after the introduction of a checklist for trauma primary survey assessment. Over the study period, each trauma primary survey was observed and adherence to each step of a standardized primary assessment protocol was recorded. Clinical outcomes including mortality, admission to pediatric intensive-care units, use of blood products, mechanical ventilation, and number of CT scans in the first 24 h were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were observed (39 pre-intervention and 41 post-intervention). No statistically significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-intervention groups in regard to adherence to checklist by specialty (57.7% versus 50.5%, p = 0.115) and outcomes. No mortality was observed. CONCLUSION: In our trauma center, the quality of the adherence to standardized trauma assessment protocols is poor among both surgical and non-surgical providers. The quality of this assessment did not improve after the introduction of a checklist. Further work aimed at organizing the approach to pediatric trauma including triage and trauma education specifically for pediatric providers is needed.

Quality Improvement to Address Surgical Burden of Disease at a Large Tertiary Public Hospital in Peru.

BACKGROUND: In resource-limited settings, there is a unique opportunity for using process improvement strategies to address the lack of access to surgical care. By implementing organizational changes in the surgical admission process, we aimed to decrease wait times, increase surgical volume, and improve patient satisfaction for elective general surgery procedures at a public tertiary hospital in Lima, Peru. METHODS: During the first phase of the intervention, Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were performed to ensure the surgery waitlist included up-to-date clinical information. In the second phase, Lean Six Sigma methodology was used to adapt the admission and scheduling process for elective general surgery patients. After six months, outcomes were compared to baseline data using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: At the conclusion of phase one, 87.0% (488/561) of patients on the new waitlist had all relevant clinical data documented, improved from 13.3% (2/15) for the pre-existing list. Time from admission to discharge for all surgeries improved from 5 to 4 days (p<0.05) after the intervention. Median wait times from admission to operation for elective surgeries were unchanged at 4 days (p=0.076) pre- and post-intervention. There was a trend toward increased weekly elective surgical volume from a median of 9 to 13 cases (p=0.24) and increased patient satisfaction rates for elective surgery from 80.5 to 83.8% (p=0.62), although these were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The process for scheduling and admitting elective surgical patients became more efficient after our intervention. Time from admission to discharge for all surgical patients improved significantly. Other measured outcomes improved, though not with statistical significance. Main challenges included gaining buy-in from all participants and disruptions in surgical services from bed shortages.

Access to Essential Surgical Care in Chiapas, Mexico: A System-Wide Geospatial Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Long travel times to reach essential surgical care in Chiapas, Mexico's poorest state, can delay lifesaving procedures and contribute to adverse outcomes. Geographical access to surgical facilities is 1 of the 6 indicators of the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery and has been measured extensively worldwide. Our objective is to determine the population with 2-h geographical access to facilities capable of performing the Bellwether procedures (laparotomy, cesarean delivery, and open fracture repair). This is the first study in Mexico to assess access to surgical facilities, including both the fragmented public sector and the private sector. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, conducted from June 2019 to January 2020, Bellwether capable surgical facilities from all health systems in Chiapas were geocoded and assessed through on-site data collection, Ministry of Health databases, and verified via telephone. Geospatial analyses were performed on Redivis. RESULTS: We identified 59 Bellwether capable hospitals, with 17.5% (n = 954,460) of the state residing more than 2 h from surgical care in public and private health systems. Of those, 22 facilities had confirmed 24/7 Bellwether capability, and 23% (n = 1,178,383) of the affiliated population resided more than 2 h from these hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the Ministry of Health and employment-based health coverage could provide timely access to essential surgical care for the majority of the population. However, the fragmentation of the healthcare system leaves a gap that contributes to delays in care and unmet emergency surgical needs.

Empowering Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, and Obstetricians to Incorporate Environmental Sustainability in the Operating Room.

OBJECTIVE: We review the existing research on environmentally sustainable surgical practices to enable SAO to advocate for improved environmental sustainability in operating rooms across the country. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Climate change refers to the impact of greenhouse gases emitted as a byproduct of human activities, trapped within our atmosphere and resulting in hotter and more variable climate patterns.1 As of 2013, the US healthcare industry was responsible for 9.8% of the country's emissions2; if it were itself a nation, US healthcare would rank 13th globally in emissions.3 As one of the most energy-intensive and wasteful areas of the hospital, ORs drive this trend. ORs are 3 to 6 times more energy intensive than clinical wards.4 Further, ORs and labor/delivery suites produce 50%-70% of waste across the hospital.5,6 Due to the adverse health impacts of climate change, the Lancet Climate Change Commission (2009) declared climate change "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century" and predicted it would exacerbate existing health disparities for minority groups, children and low socioeconomic patients.7. METHODS/RESULTS: We provide a comprehensive narrative review of published efforts to improve environmental sustainability in the OR while simultaneously achieving cost-savings, and highlight resources for clinicians interested in pursuing this work. CONCLUSION: Climate change adversely impacts patient health, and disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable patients. SAO contribute to the problem through their resource-intensive work in the OR and are uniquely positioned to lead efforts to improve the environmental sustainability of the OR.

Knowledge of pelvic floor disorders amongst immigrant women in Canada.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) have a detrimental effect on quality of life. Despite the available treatments, women often do not seek medical care. Patient knowledge has been identified as a major barrier to accessing care. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge on PFD amongst women in Edmonton, hypothesizing that immigrant women are less knowledgeable about PFD than Canadian-born women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of immigrant women and Canadian-born women was conducted. Immigrant women were recruited at the Multi-Cultural Health Brokers Co-op (MCHB) and Canadian-born women at a colposcopy clinic. The Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ) was administered. Scores for UI and POP were calculated and compared using a Mann-Whitney U test and a t test. A subgroup analysis of immigrants was carried out according to length of stay in Canada and ethnicity. Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Alberta Human Research Ethics Office. RESULTS: A total of 106 immigrants and 102 Canadian-born women completed the PIKQ. The overall PIKQ scores were 12.7 for immigrant women and 14.4 for Canadian-born women (p = 0.04). Immigrant women who had lived in Canada for >10 years had higher scores (mean = 13.2) compared with women with less than 10 years in Canada (mean = 11.8). Women from South Asia had higher overall PIKQ scores (mean = 14.6) whereas women from sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest scores (mean = 12.1). CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant women in Edmonton were found to have less knowledge on PFD than Canadian-born women.

Climate change: challenges and opportunities to scale up surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia care globally.

Climate change affects human health in a myriad of ways, requiring reassessment of the nature of scaling up care delivery and the effect that care delivery has on the environment. 5 billion people do not have access to safe and timely surgical care, and the quantity and severity of conditions that require surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia care will increase substantially as a result of climate change. However, surgery is resource intensive and contributes substantially to greenhouse-gas emissions. In response to climate change, the surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia community has a key role to play to ensure that a scale-up of service delivery incorporates mitigation and adaptation strategies. As countries scale up surgical care, understanding the implications of surgery on climate change and the implications of climate change on surgical care will be crucial in the development of health policies.

Association of surgical approach and prolonged opioid prescriptions in patients undergoing major pelvic cancer procedures.

BACKGROUND: The rise in deaths attributed to opioid drugs has become a major public health problem in the United States and in the world. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is associated with a faster postoperative recovery and our aim was to investigate if the use of MIS was associated with lower odds of prolonged opioid prescriptions after major procedures. METHODS: Retrospective study using the IBM Watson Health Marketscan® Commerical Claims and Encounters Database investigating opioid-naïve cancer patients aged 18-64 who underwent open versus MIS radical prostatectomy (RP), partial colectomy (PC) or hysterectomy (HYS) from 2012 to 2017. Propensity weighted logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the independent effect of surgical approach on prolonged opioid prescriptions, defined as prescriptions within 91-180 days of surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 6838 patients underwent RP (MIS 85.5%), 4480 patients underwent PC (MIS 61.6%) and 1620 patients underwent HYS (MIS 41.8%). Approximately 70-80% of all patients had perioperative opioid prescriptions. In the weighted model, patients undergoing MIS were significantly less likely to have prolonged opioid prescriptions in all three surgery types (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.737, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.595-0.914, p = 0.006; OR 0.728, 95% CI 0.600-0.882, p = 0.001; OR 0.655, 95% CI 0.466-0.920, p = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: The use of the MIS was associated with lower odds of prolonged opioid prescription in all procedures examined. While additional studies such as clinical trials are needed for further confirmation, our findings need to be considered for patient counseling as postoperative differences between approaches do exist.

Toward a complete estimate of physical and psychosocial morbidity from prolonged obstructed labour: a modelling study based on clinician survey.

INTRODUCTION: Prolonged obstructed labour often results from lack of access to timely obstetrical care and affects millions of women. Current burden of disease estimates do not include all the physical and psychosocial sequelae from prolonged obstructed labour. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the full spectrum of maternal and newborn comorbidities, and create a more comprehensive burden of disease model. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey of clinicians and epidemiological modelling of the burden of disease. A survey to estimate prevalence of prolonged obstructed labour comorbidities was developed for prevalence estimates of 27 comorbidities across seven categories associated with prolonged obstructed labour. The survey was electronically distributed to clinicians caring for women who have suffered from prolonged obstructed labour in Asia and Africa. Prevalence estimates of the sequelae were used to calculate years lost to disability for reproductive age women (15 to 49 years) in 54 low- and middle-income countries that report any prevalence of obstetric fistula. RESULTS: Prevalence estimates were obtained from 132 participants. The median prevalence of reported sequelae within each category were: fistula (6.67% to 23.98%), pelvic floor (6.53% to 8.60%), genitourinary (5.74% to 9.57%), musculoskeletal (6.04% to 11.28%), infectious/inflammatory (5.33% to 9.62%), psychological (7.25% to 24.10%), neonatal (13.63% to 66.41%) and social (38.54% to 59.88%). The expanded methodology calculated a burden of morbidity associated with prolonged obstructed labour among women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years old) in 2017 that is 38% more than the previous estimates. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis provides estimates on the prevalence of physical and psychosocial consequences of prolonged obstructed labour. Our study suggests that the burden of disease resulting from prolonged obstructed labour is currently underestimated. Notably, women who suffer from prolonged obstructed labour have a high prevalence of psychosocial sequelae but these are often not included in burden of disease estimates. In addition to preventative and public health measures, high quality surgical and anaesthesia care are urgently needed to prevent prolonged obstructed labour and its sequelae.