RESUMO
People experiencing homelessness have not yet benefited from the substantial progress made in managing cancers, including advances in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgical interventions, multidisciplinary team approaches, and integrated cancer care models. People experiencing homelessness are at higher risks of developing cancers and their mortality due to cancer is twice that of the general population. Potential interventions to improve access to cancer treatment include alliances and active engagement with community organisations and shelters, cancer case management and peer-to-peer support, mHealth and navigation strategies, tailored hospital discharge to adult group homes, well equipped subacute rehabilitation centres, and specialised shelters and respite housing to assure appropriate follow-up care. Other interventions include improving preventive care, expanding data, targeted policy efforts, and broader housing advocacy. In this Personal View, I discuss challenges and opportunities in cancer treatment, with a review of the current evidence on potential interventions, and highlight strategies to improve access to cancer care for homeless populations.
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Pessoas Mal Alojadas , Neoplasias , Adulto , Humanos , Habitação , Assistência ao Convalescente , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Neoplasias/terapiaRESUMO
Cervical cancer disproportionately affects low-resource settings. Papanicolaou, human papillomavirus (HPV), and visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid (VIA) testing, each with different characteristics, will reduce cervical cancer burden. We conducted a critical literature review using PubMed, Cochrane, WHO, and grey literature from 1994 to 2020. We examined efficacy, harms, and comparative effectiveness of screening methods by age, human immunodeficiency virus, provider characteristics, and assessed implementation challenges in low-resource settings. Comprehensive data on utility and efficacy of screening tests indicates that each screening has strengths and shortcomings but all confer acceptable performance. HPV and VIA appear more promising. Primary HPV test-and-treat, self-testing, and co-testing have been studied but data on triage plans, cost, support system, implementation and sustainability is unclear in low-resource settings. HPV testing could help target subgroups of older or higher risk women. VIA offers local capacity-building and scalability. Quality VIA technique after HPV testing is still required to guide post-screening treatments. VIA competencies decline gradually with current standard trainings. Stationary cervicography improves VIA quality but isn't scalable. Affordable smartphones eliminate this barrier, enhance training through mentorship, and advance continuing education and peer-to-peer training. Smartphone-based VIA facilitates cervical image storage for patient education, health promotion, record-keeping, follow-up care, remote expert support, and quality control to improve VIA reliability and reproducibility and reduce mis-diagnoses and burden to health systems. Rather than ranking screening methods using test characteristics alone in study or higher-resource settings, we advocate for scalable strategies that maximize reliability and access and reduce cost and human resources.
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Alphapapillomavirus , Infecções por Papillomavirus , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Teste de Papanicolaou , Papillomaviridae , Infecções por Papillomavirus/diagnóstico , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/diagnóstico , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/prevenção & controle , Esfregaço VaginalRESUMO
Large number of people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) face barriers to adequate healthcare in humanitarian settings. We conducted a systematic literature review in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE/DARE, Cochrane, and grey literature from 1990 to 2021 to evaluate effective strategies in addressing NCDs (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, COPD, cancer) in humanitarian settings. From 2793 articles, 2652 were eliminated through title/abstract screening; 141 articles were reviewed in full; 93 were eliminated for not meeting full criteria. Remaining 48 articles were reviewed qualitatively to assess populations, settings, interventions, outcome, and efficacy and effectiveness; 38 studies addressed treatments, 9 prevention, and 7 epidemiology. Prevention studies broadly addressed capacity-building. Treatment and epidemiology studies largely addressed hypertension and diabetes. Interventions included web-based/mobile health strategies, pharmacy-level interventions, portable imaging, and capacity building including physical clinics, staff training, forging collaborations, guideline development, point-of-care labs, health promotion activities, EMR, and monitoring interventions. Collaboration between academia and implementing agencies was limited. Models of care were largely not well-described and varied between studies due to contextual constraints. Barriers to interventions included financial, logistical, organizational, sociocultural, and security. Cancer care is significantly understudied. Simplified care models adapted to contexts and program evaluations of implemented strategies could address gaps in applied research. Inherent challenges in humanitarian settings pose unavoidable perils to evidence generation which requires a shift in research mindset to match aspirations with practicality, research collaborations at the inception of projects, reworking of desired conventional level of research evidence considering resource-intense constraints (HR, time, cost), and adapted research tools, methods, and procedures.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus , Hipertensão , Doença Crônica , Diabetes Mellitus/prevenção & controle , Gerenciamento Clínico , Humanos , Hipertensão/prevenção & controle , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de SaúdeRESUMO
The burden of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has greatly increased. We evaluated the risks for CDI transmission to community members after hospitalized patients are discharged. We conducted a systematic literature review in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL plus EBSCO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and gray literature during January 2000âFebruary 2019 and identified 4,798 citations were identified. We eliminated 4,554 citations through title and abstract screening; 217 additional citations did not meet full criteria. We reviewed texts for the 27 remaining articles qualitatively for internal/external validity. A few identified studies describing risks to community members lacked accurate risk measurement or preventative strategies. Primary data are needed to assess efficacy of and inform current expertise-driven CDI prevention practices. Raising awareness among providers and researchers, conducting clinical and health services research, linking up integrated monitoring and evaluation processes at hospitals and outpatient settings, and developing and integrating CDI surveillance systems are warranted.
Assuntos
Clostridioides difficile , Infecções por Clostridium , Infecção Hospitalar , Transição para Assistência do Adulto , Clostridioides , Atenção à Saúde , HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is among the most common preventable cancers with the highest morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) as cervical cancer screening strategy in resource-poor settings. However, there are barriers to the sustainability of VIA programs including declining providers' VIA competence without mentorship and quality assurances and challenges of integration into primary healthcare. This study seeks to evaluate the impact of smartphone-based strategies in improving reliability, reproducibility, and quality of VIA in humanitarian settings. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We implemented smartphone-based VIA that included standard VIA training, adapted refresher, and 6-month mHealth mentorship, sequentially, in the rural Shiselweni region of Eswatini. A remote expert reviewer provided diagnostic and management feedback on patients' cervical images, which were reviewed weekly by nurses. Program's outcomes, VIA image agreement rates, and Kappa statistic were compared before, during, and after training. From September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018, 4,247 patients underwent screening; 247 were reviewed weekly by a VIA diagnostic expert. Of the 247, 128 (49%) were HIV-positive; mean age was 30.80 years (standard deviation [SD]: 7.74 years). Initial VIA positivity of 16% (436/2,637) after standard training gradually increased to 25.1% (293/1,168), dropped to an average of 9.7% (143/1,469) with a lowest of 7% (20/284) after refresher in 2017 (p = 0.001), increased again to an average of 9.6% (240/2,488) with a highest of 17% (17/100) before the start of mentorship, and dropped to an average of 8.3% (134/1,610) in 2018 with an average of 6.3% (37/591) after the start of mentorship (p = 0.019). Overall, 88% were eligible for and 68% received cryotherapy the same day: 10 cases were clinically suspicious for cancer; however, only 5 of those cases were confirmed using punch biopsy. Agreement rates with the expert reviewer for positive and negative cases were 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 79.4% to 100%) and 95.7% (95% CI: 92.2% to 97.9%), respectively, with negative predictive value (NPV) (100%), positive predictive value (PPV) (63.5%), and area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics (AUC ROC) (0.978). Kappa statistic was 0.74 (95% CI; 0.58 to 0.89); 0.64 and 0.79 at 3 and 6 months, respectively. In logistic regression, HIV and age were associated with VIA positivity (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 3.53, 95% CI: 1.10 to 11.29; p = 0.033 and aOR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.0004 to 1.13; p = 0.048, respectively). We were unable to incorporate a control arm due to logistical constraints in routine humanitarian settings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that smartphone mentorship provided experiential learning to improve nurses' competencies and VIA reliability and reproducibility, reduced false positive, and introduced peer-to-peer education and quality control services. Local collaboration; extending services to remote populations; decreasing unnecessary burden to screened women, providers, and tertiary centers; and capacity building through low-tech high-yield screening are promising strategies for scale-up of VIA programs.
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Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Programas de Rastreamento , Smartphone , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/diagnóstico , Adulto , Estudos de Coortes , Atenção à Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/métodos , Essuatíni , Feminino , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Telemedicina/métodosRESUMO
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees arrived in Bangladesh within weeks in fall 2017, quickly forming large settlements without any basic support. Humanitarian first responders provided basic necessities including food, shelter, water, sanitation, and health care. However, the challenge before them-a vast camp ravaged by diphtheria and measles superimposed on a myriad of common pathologies-was disproportionate to the resources. The needs were endless, resources finite, inadequacies abundant, and premature death inevitable. While such confines force unimaginable choices in resource allocation, they do not define the humanitarian purpose-to alleviate suffering and not allow such moral violations to become devoid of their horrifying meaning. As humanitarian workers, we maintain humanity when we care, commit, and respond to moral injustices. This refusal to abandon others in desperate situations is an attempt to rectify injustices through witnessing and solidarity. When people are left behind, we must not leave them alone.
Assuntos
Difteria/etnologia , Sarampo/etnologia , Refugiados , Bangladesh/epidemiologia , Atenção à Saúde , Humanos , Mianmar/etnologia , Fatores de Risco , Gestão de RiscosRESUMO
Annually, 100 million people experience homelessness worldwide. Most adults that are struggling with homelessness are living to age 50 years or older and need age-appropriate screening for cancer. Cancer-related death in homeless adults is twice as high as the average in the adult population in the USA. However, few studies have examined the rates of and barriers to cancer screening in homeless people. This Review explores cancer-related health disparities between homeless people and the general population by providing a review of data and definitions relating to homelessness, an analysis of barriers to screening in this population, and a discussion of the current and potential interventions and strategies to improve cancer screening in homeless individuals. Recommendations include implementing appropriate data collection methods for this population, supporting cancer screening in places where homeless people usually access care, assessing the effectiveness of approaches to increasing cancer screening in homeless people, and addressing adequate housing as a fundamental social factor.
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Detecção Precoce de Câncer/métodos , Disparidades em Assistência à Saúde , Pessoas Mal Alojadas , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Saúde Global , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Avaliação das Necessidades , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Análise de SobrevidaRESUMO
The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and early pregnancy are high among adolescents in Madagascar. We applied a qualitative descriptive approach to evaluate perceptions, attitudes, and misconceptions regarding STIs and contraception among female and male adolescents ages 15-19 years (n = 43) in Northern Madagascar in 2014 using focus group discussions with open-ended questions. Data were coded and analyzed for major themes. Participants were in grades 6 to 12 in school; 53% were female. Despite high levels of awareness, significant stigma against and misconceptions about STIs, condom use, and sexual practices existed. Many participants did not know how to use condoms and felt uncomfortable suggesting condoms with regular partners, despite acknowledging infidelity as a frequent problem. Male participants were more willing to use condoms as contraception for unwanted pregnancy than for prevention of STIs. Most participants held misconceptions about side effects of contraceptives, including infertility, cancer, and preventing bad blood from leaving the woman's body. Systematic and community-wide health education and formal reproductive health curricula in schools may improve attitudes and stigma regarding STIs and family planning. These strategies need to be developed and employed via collaboration among faith-based, community, and non-governmental organizations, schools, and governmental health and social service agencies.
Assuntos
Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Saúde Reprodutiva , Sexo Seguro/psicologia , Comportamento Sexual/psicologia , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/psicologia , Adolescente , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Humanos , Madagáscar , Masculino , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/prevenção & controle , Adulto JovemRESUMO
PURPOSE: We undertook a study to determine the rates, predictors, and barriers to blood pressure control among homeless and nonhomeless hypertensive adult patients from 10 New York City shelter-based clinics. METHODS: The study was a retrospective chart review of blood pressure measurements, sociodemographic characteristics, and factors associated with homelessness and hypertension extracted from the medical records of a random sample of hypertensive patients (N = 210) in 2014. RESULTS: Most patients were African American or Hispanic; 24.8% were female, and 84.3% were homeless for a mean duration of 3.07 years (SD = 5.04 years). Homeless adult patients were younger, had less insurance, and were more likely to be a current smoker and alcohol abuser. Of the 210 hypertensive patients, 40.1% of homeless and 33.3% of nonhomeless patients had uncontrolled blood pressure (P = .29) when compared with US rates for hypertensive adults, which range between 19.6% and 24.8%, respectively; 15.8% of homeless patients had stage 2 hypertension (P = .27). Homeless hypertensive patients with diabetes or multiple chronic diseases had better blood pressure control (P <.01). In logistic regression, lack of insurance was associated with inadequate blood pressure control (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of uncontrolled hypertension among hypertensive homeless adults is alarming. We propose comprehensive approaches to improve social support, access to medical insurance, and medication adherence, the lack of which complicate blood pressure control, targeted health education, and life style modifications using mobile health strategies for this mobile population.
Assuntos
Instituições de Assistência Ambulatorial/estatística & dados numéricos , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Pessoas Mal Alojadas/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Alcoolismo/complicações , Alcoolismo/epidemiologia , Pressão Sanguínea , Feminino , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Humanos , Hipertensão/etiologia , Seguro Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Adesão à Medicação , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Fumar/efeitos adversos , Fumar/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Introduction Homeless persons have minimal opportunities to complete recommended cancer screening. The rates and predictors of cervical cancer screening are understudied among homeless women in the US. Methods We enrolled 297 homeless women 21-65 years old residing in 6 major New York City shelters from 2012 to 2014. We used a validated national survey to determine the proportion and predictors of cervical cancer screening using cytology (Pap test). Results Mean age was 44.72 (±11.96) years. Majority was Black, heterosexual, single, with high school or lower education; 50.9 % were smokers and 41.7 % were homeless more than a year. Despite a 76.5 % proportion of self-reported Pap test within the past 3 years, 65 % of women assumed their Pap test results were normal or did not get proper follow up after abnormal results. Forty-five-point-nine percent of women did not know about frequency of Pap test or causes of cervical cancer. Lower proportion of up-to-date Pap test was associated with lack of knowledge of recommended Pap test frequency (p < 0.01) and relationship between HPV and an abnormal Pap test (p < 0.01). Conclusions Self-reported Pap testing in homeless women was similar to a national sample. However, the majority of women surveyed were not aware of their results, received limited if any follow up and had significant education gaps about cervical cancer screening. We recommend improved counseling and patient education, patient navigators to close screening loops, and consideration of alternative test-and-treat modalities to improve effective screening.
Assuntos
Detecção Precoce de Câncer/estatística & dados numéricos , Disparidades em Assistência à Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Teste de Papanicolaou/estatística & dados numéricos , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/diagnóstico , Esfregaço Vaginal/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Idoso , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/psicologia , Feminino , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pessoas Mal Alojadas/psicologia , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Programas de Rastreamento/psicologia , Programas de Rastreamento/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Teste de Papanicolaou/psicologia , Infecções por Papillomavirus/prevenção & controle , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/prevenção & controle , Esfregaço Vaginal/psicologiaRESUMO
We conducted 10 focus groups (n = 49) with community members and key informant interviews (n = 28) to explore hardships and community coping strategies for sequelae of abuse among Burmese refugees/migrants in Thailand. Transcripts were coded and analyzed for major themes. In Burma, they universally experienced human rights violations and economic hardship. Hardships continued in Thailand through exploitation and threat of deportation. Coping was achieved through both personal and community-based mechanisms including self-reflection, sharing experiences, spirituality, and serving their community. Western psychosocial counseling, although available, was used infrequently. Effective psychosocial support often originates from the community and should be supported by international organizations.
Assuntos
Adaptação Psicológica , Povo Asiático/psicologia , Serviços de Saúde Comunitária , Violação de Direitos Humanos/etnologia , Refugiados/psicologia , Migrantes/psicologia , Grupos Focais , Violação de Direitos Humanos/psicologia , Humanos , Pobreza , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Tailândia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: There is a shortage of trained health care personnel for cervical cancer screening in low-/middle-income countries. We evaluated the feasibility and limited efficacy of a smartphone-based training of community health nurses in visual inspection of the cervix under acetic acid (VIA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During April to July 2015 in urban Ghana, we designed and developed a study to determine the feasibility and efficacy of an mHealth-supported training of community health nurses (CHNs, n = 15) to perform VIA and to use smartphone images to obtain expert feedback on their diagnoses within 24 hours and to improve VIA skills retention. The CHNs completed a 2-week on-site introductory training in VIA performance and interpretation, followed by an ongoing 3-month text messaging-supported VIA training by an expert VIA reviewer. RESULTS: Community health nurses screened 169 women at their respective community health centers while receiving real-time feedback from the reviewer. The total agreement rate between all VIA diagnoses made by all CHNs and the expert reviewer was 95%. The mean (SD) rate of agreement between each CHN and the expert reviewer was 89.6% (12.8%). The agreement rates for positive and negative cases were 61.5% and 98.0%, respectively. Cohen κ statistic was 0.67 (95% CI = 0.45-0.88). Around 7.7% of women tested VIA positive and received cryotherapy or further services. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of mHealth-supported VIA training of CHNs and have the potential to improve cervical cancer screening coverage in Ghana.
Assuntos
Ácido Acético/administração & dosagem , Testes Diagnósticos de Rotina/métodos , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/métodos , Educação Médica/métodos , Indicadores e Reagentes/administração & dosagem , Enfermeiros de Saúde Comunitária , Telemedicina/métodos , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/diagnóstico , Adulto , Feminino , Gana , Humanos , Projetos Piloto , SmartphoneRESUMO
PURPOSE: Millions of homeless Americans have lower cancer screening and higher cancer mortality rates. We explored perspectives and perceptions regarding cancer and cancer screening among homeless. METHODS: Using random and criteria sampling, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 50 homeless adults from New York City's (NYC) shelters and shelter-based clinics. RESULTS: Mean age was 51.66 years with average 2.03 years of homelessness; 33/50 were older than 50. Only a small number of participants had their recommended cancer screening. Contrary to general assumptions and despite significant barriers, the homeless were concerned about cancer, believed their risk of cancer is higher compared to the general population, and generally considered screening a high priority during homelessness. While they acknowledged several individual- and systems-level barriers, they welcomed targeted measures to address their multi-level barriers. Suggested strategies included active counseling by providers, health education or reminders via mHealth strategies or face-to-face in shelters, addressing potential providers' prejudice and biases regarding their priorities, incentives, and patient navigators or coach to help navigating the complex cancer screening process. CONCLUSIONS: There are gaps in effective cancer screening despite adequate attitude and perceptions among homeless. The health system needs to shift from addressing only basic care to a more equitable approach with accessible and acceptable opportunities for preventive cancer care for the homeless.
Assuntos
Detecção Precoce de Câncer/psicologia , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pessoas Mal Alojadas/psicologia , Programas de Rastreamento/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Mobile health may be an effective means of providing access and education to the millions of homeless Americans. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 50 homeless people from different shelters in New York City to evaluate their perceptions, attitudes, and experiences regarding mobile health. Participants' average age was 51.66 (SD = 11.34) years; duration of homelessness was 2.0 (SD = 3.10) years. The majority had a mobile phone with the ability to receive and send text messages. Most participants attempted to maintain the same phone number over time. The homeless were welcoming and supportive of text messaging regarding health care issues, including appointment reminders, health education, or management of diseases considering their barriers and mobility, and believed it would help them access necessary health care. Overwhelmingly they preferred text reminders that were short, positively framed, and directive in nature compared to lengthy or motivational texts. The majority believed that free cell phone plans would improve their engagement with, help them navigate, and ultimately improve their access to care. These positive attitudes and experience could be effectively used to improve health care for the homeless. Policies to improve access to mobile health and adapted text messaging strategies regarding the health care needs of this mobile population should be considered.
Assuntos
Atitude Frente a Saúde , Pessoas Mal Alojadas/psicologia , Telemedicina , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Pessoas Mal Alojadas/estatística & dados numéricos , Habitação/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Envio de Mensagens de TextoRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We determined colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, predictors, and barriers in 2 major New York City shelter-based clinics. METHODS: We extracted screening rates, sociodemographic characteristics, and factors associated with homelessness from medical records of domiciled and homeless patients aged 50 years and older (n = 443) with at least 3 clinic visits between 2010 and 2012. RESULTS: The majority of patients were African American or Hispanic, 76% were male, and 60.7% were homeless (mean = 2.4 years; SD = 2.8 years). Domiciled patients were more likely than homeless patients to be screened (41.3% vs 19.7%; P < .001). Homeless and domiciled patients received equal provider counseling, but more homeless patients declined screening (P < .001). In logistic regression, gender, race, duration of homelessness, insurance status, substance and alcohol abuse, chronic diseases, and mental health were not associated with screening, but housing, provider counseling, and older age were. CONCLUSIONS: Proposed interventions to improve CRC screening include respite shelter rooms for colonoscopy prepping, patient navigators to help navigate the health system and accompany patients to and from the procedure, counseling at all clinical encounters, and tailored patient education to address misconceptions.
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Neoplasias Colorretais/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Colorretais/epidemiologia , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoas Mal Alojadas/estatística & dados numéricos , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Neoplasias Colorretais/etnologia , Feminino , Habitação , Humanos , Masculino , Saúde Mental , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Grupos Raciais/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores Sexuais , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Conventional diagnosis of malaria has relied upon either clinical diagnosis or microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears. These methods, if not carried out exactly, easily result in the over- or under-diagnosis of malaria. The reliability and accuracy of malaria RDTs, even in extremely challenging health care settings, have made them a staple in malaria control programmes. Using the setting of a pilot introduction of malaria RDTs in Greater Garissa, North Eastern Province, Kenya, this study aims to identify and understand perceptions regarding malaria diagnosis, with a particular focus on RDTs, and treatment among community members and health care workers (HCWs). METHODS: The study was conducted in five districts of Garissa County. Focus group discussions (FGD) were performed with community members that were recruited from health facilities (HFs) supported by the MENTOR Initiative. In-depth interviews (IDIs) and FGDs with HCWs were also carried out. Interview transcripts were then coded and analysed for major themes. Two researchers reviewed all codes, first separately and then together, discussed the specific categories, and finally characterized, described, and agreed upon major important themes. RESULTS: Thirty-four FGDs were carried out with a range of two to eight participants (median of four). Of 157 community members, 103 (65.6%) were women. The majority of participants were illiterate and the highest level of education was secondary school. Some 76% of participants were of Somali ethnicity. Whilst community members and HCWs demonstrated knowledge of aspects of malaria transmission, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, gaps and misconceptions were identified. Poor adherence to negative RDT results, unfamiliarity and distrust of RDTs, and an inconsistent RDT supply were the main challenges to become apparent in FGDs and IDIs. CONCLUSION: Gaps in knowledge or incorrect beliefs exist in Greater Garissa and have the potential to act as barriers to complete and correct malaria case management. Addressing these knowledge gaps requires comprehensive education campaigns and a reliable and constant RDT supply. The results of this study highlight education and supply chain as key factors to be addressed in order to make large scale roll out of RDTs as successful and effective as possible.
Assuntos
Testes Diagnósticos de Rotina/métodos , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pessoal de Saúde , Malária/diagnóstico , Malária/tratamento farmacológico , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Características de Residência , Adolescente , Adulto , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Quênia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Short-term humanitarian medical volunteerism has grown significantly among both clinicians and trainees over the past several years. Increasingly, both volunteers and their respective institutions have faced important challenges in regard to medical ethics and professional codes that should not be overlooked. We explore these potential concerns and their risk factors in three categories: ethical responsibilities in patient care, professional responsibility to communities and populations, and institutional responsibilities towards trainees. We discuss factors increasing the risk of harm to patients and communities, including inadequate preparation, the use of advanced technology and the translation of Western medicine, issues with clinical epidemiology and test utility, difficulties with the principles of justice and clinical justice, the lack of population-based medicine, sociopolitical effects of foreign aid, volunteer stress management, and need for sufficient trainee supervision. We review existing resources and offer suggestions for future skill-based training, organisational responsibilities, and ethical preparation.
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Altruísmo , Ética Médica , Voluntários , Saúde Global , Humanos , Organização e Administração/normas , Assistência ao Paciente/ética , Assistência ao Paciente/normas , Dano ao Paciente , Fatores de Risco , Justiça Social , Carga de Trabalho/psicologiaRESUMO
A significant number of asylum seekers who largely survived torture live in the United States. Asylum seekers have complex social and medical problems with significant barriers to health care access. When evaluating and providing care for survivors, health providers face important challenges regarding medical ethics and professional codes. We review ethical concerns in regard to accountability, the patient-physician relationship, and moral responsibilities to offer health care irrespective of patient legal status; competing professional responsibility toward society and the judiciary system; concerns about the consistency of asylum seekers' claims; ethical concerns surrounding involving trainees and researching within the evaluation setting; and the implication of broader societal views towards rights and social justice. We discuss contributing factors, including inadequate and insufficient provider training, varying and inadequate institutional commitment, asylum seekers' significant medical and social problems, and the broader health and social system issues. We review existing resources to address these concerns and offer suggestions.
Assuntos
Pessoas com Deficiência , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde/ética , Direitos Humanos , Relações Médico-Paciente/ética , Refugiados , Responsabilidade Social , Tortura , Populações Vulneráveis , Códigos de Ética , Educação Médica/tendências , Ética Médica , Mão de Obra em Saúde , Humanos , Obrigações Morais , Narração , Defesa do Paciente/ética , Pobreza , Fatores de Risco , Estudantes de Medicina/psicologia , Estados UnidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Seven to 12% of foreign-born patients in the United States has experienced torture. We aimed to teach medical students to identify and care for asylum seekers/torture survivors. DESCRIPTION: One hundred twenty-five students participated in a program consisting of a workshop covering sequelae of torture, asylum law, and an approach to patient evaluation; twice-monthly clinical sessions; and mentored preparation of medical affidavits. We observed clinical encounters; evaluated medical affidavits; and assessed students' knowledge, attitudes, and skills pre- and postcurriculum. EVALUATION: Students successfully performed physical and psychological evaluations and prepared affidavits resulting in 89% asylum application approval. We observed improvement in student attitudes toward working with survivors (p < .05), knowledge of sequelae of torture (p < .001), and self-efficacy in clinical evaluation (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students learned necessary skills to provide services for survivors, which will also serve them in caring for other vulnerable populations. As an advocacy, cultural competency, and domestic global health opportunity, this training was feasible and achieved its educational goals.
Assuntos
Currículo , Educação Médica/métodos , Saúde Global , Refugiados/psicologia , Sobreviventes/psicologia , Tortura , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Exame Físico , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/diagnóstico , Estudantes de Medicina , Estados UnidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Half a million immigrants enter the United States annually. Clinical providers generally lack training in immigrant health. DESCRIPTION: We developed a curriculum with didactic, clinical, and analytic components to advance residents' skills in immigrant and travel health. The curriculum focused on patients and their countries of origin and encompassed (a) societal, cultural, economical, and human rights profiles; (b) health system/ policies/resources/statistics, and environmental health; and (c) clinical manifestations, tropical and travel health. Residents evaluated sociocultural health beliefs and human rights abuses; performed history and physical examinations while precepted by faculty; developed specific care plans; and discussed patients in a dedicated immigrant health morning report. EVALUATION: We assessed resident satisfaction using questionnaires and focus groups. Residents (n=20) found clinical, sociocultural, and epidemiological components the most helpful. Morning reports reinforced peer education. CONCLUSION: The immigrant health curriculum was useful for residents. Multiple teaching modules, collaboration with grassroot organizations, and an ongoing clinical component were key features.