Assessing provider knowledge of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program in a federally qualified health center.

DISCLAIMER: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. PURPOSE: The 340B Drug Pricing Program is important to healthcare organizations that serve vulnerable communities. However, it is unknown whether healthcare providers in these organizations understand the 340B program and how it supports enhanced patient services. This study aims to characterize the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of healthcare providers toward the 340B program in a multisite federally qualified health center (FQHC). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey. A 27-item survey designed to assess prescriber knowledge and perspectives toward the 340B program was developed and administered. Closed-ended items were summarized using descriptive statistics, and open-ended items were analyzed with qualitative methods. RESULTS: A total of 198 healthcare providers with prescribing authority received the survey; of those, 65 (32.8%) participated. The majority of respondents (66.2%) were female; 41.5% were 35 years of age or younger, and 49.2% were physicians. The majority of respondents agreed that patients benefited from access to the organization's 340B pharmacies (95%) and that 340B pricing is important to consider when prescribing medications (78.3%). However, knowledge of the 340B program was limited, with only half of respondents (54%) able to correctly answer at least 4 of 7 knowledge-focused items. Reponses to a patient case suggested that some providers may be unfamiliar with which drugs are available at reduced prices. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that providers believe the 340B program benefits patients and the organization but often lack a complete understanding of the program. Future research should focus on prescriber education as a strategy to help organizations optimize their 340B programs and facilitate patient access to medications.

Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Maternal and Child Health Services: A Comprehensive Analysis of Government Initiatives in Northern India.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted healthcare services globally, with particular challenges observed in maternal and child health (MCH) care. This study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on MCH services in northern India, focusing on key government programs. METHODS: Data were collected from four major MCH programs in India: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), and the Universal Immunization Program (UIP). The study compared MCH service utilization and outcomes during the pandemic period (March-September 2020) with the same period in 2019. RESULTS: Preliminary findings indicated a significant reduction in the utilization of MCH services during the pandemic, with a decrease observed in institutional deliveries, antenatal care visits, and immunization coverage. For instance, institutional deliveries declined by 30% compared with the previous year, with a similar decrease observed in antenatal care visits. Immunization coverage also decreased by approximately 25%, indicating a substantial decline in preventive care services. Challenges in accessing essential treatments for sick infants have also been reported, with a 40% decrease in the utilization of free treatment services under the JSSK program. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted MCH services in northern India, highlighting the vulnerability of these essential health programs during public health emergencies. Addressing the challenges identified in this study is crucial to ensuring the continuity and resilience of MCH services in similar settings.

Australian and Canadian financial wellbeing policy landscape during COVID-19: An equity-informed policy scan.

Background: This targeted and comprehensive policy scan examined how different levels of governments in Australia and Canada responded to the financial crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We mapped the types of early policy responses addressing financial strain and promoting financial wellbeing. We also examined their equity considerations. Methods: Through a systematic search, snowballing, and manual search, we identified Canadian and Australian policies at all government levels related to financial strain or financial wellbeing enacted or amended in 2019-2020. Using a deductive-inductive approach, policies were categorized by jurisdiction level, focal areas, and target population groups. Results: In total, 213 and 97 policies in Canada and Australia, respectively, were included. Comparisons between Canadian and Australian policies indicated a more diversified and equity-targeted policy landscape in Canada. In both countries, most policies focused on individual and family finances, followed by housing and employment areas. Conclusions: The policy scan identified gaps and missed opportunities in the early policies related to financial strain and financial wellbeing. While fast, temporary actions addressed individuals' immediate needs, we recommend governments develop a longer-term action plan to tackle the root causes of financial strain and poor financial wellbeing for better health and non-health crisis preparedness. Statement on Ethics and Informed Consent: This research reported in this paper did not require ethical clearance or patient informed consent as the data sources were published policy documents. This study did not involve data collection with humans (or animals), nor any secondary datasets involving data provided by humans (or from animal studies).

Reviewing the National Health Services Quality Policies and Strategies of the Iranian Health System: A Document Analysis.

Background: High-quality health care is an important component of efforts to reach Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Given this pivotal fact, poor quality of care is a significant bottleneck in the endeavors of Iran to UHC. This study was part of a broader qualitative study and aimed to provide supplementary data about the documents related to the National Quality Policies and Strategies (NQPS) health services in the health system of Iran to determine the degree of alignment with the World Health Organization (WHO) approach for NQPS, and to track change and development over time. Methods: This document analysis was performed following the READ approach for systematic document analysis in health policy research. Furthermore, qualitative content analysis following parallel forms of the mixed analysis in which the textual material proceeded with different inductive and deductive content-analytical procedures simultaneously, applying the WHO practical approach for NQPS, was selected. Results: The 15 included records that met the inclusion criteria were released in the post-Islamic Revolution period. The Ministry of Health was found as the most responsible authority for publishing the NQPS among the other authorities. Furthermore, 67% of NQPS was aligned with the goals and priorities of a broader national plan or policy. Contradictions, variations, and ambiguities were also found in the literature circumstances of the NQPS. There was no NQPS concentrated on the entire pathway of care in the Iranian health system, which developed according to the WHO approach for NQPS. Conclusions: Qualitative analysis of the current NQPSs based on the eight inter-dependent elements and critical supplements, the technical perspective of broad stakeholders, community engagement, and steady commitment of policymakers are our recommendations for future efforts towards having NQPS.

Socio-demographic and Audiological Profile of the Board-Reviewed Applicants for Hearing Handicap Certification in a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute in Eastern India.

To analyze the socio-demographic and audiological profile of the applicants for hearing handicap certification in the Medical Board (henceforth, "Board") of a tertiary care teaching institute. This is a retrospective record review (March 2019-February 2020) from the archival computer database of the institutional Board. The procedure for audiological assessment prior to Board review and thereafter, the evaluation at the Board (computation of hearing impairment) for eligibility for certification was discussed. The socio-demographic profile of the applicants (age, gender, faith) and the types of hearing impairment [HI%; organic (sensorineural, mixed), non-organic (malingering)] were analyzed with relevant statistical parameters. A HI% scale was introduced to classify the severity of the hearing deficit. Of the 163 applicants, 148 had organic hearing loss (average age: 35.4 years; 1.9 times male preponderance) and 15 were malingerers (average age: 35.7 years; 14 times male preponderance). The left ear contributed more to the hearing handicap. Most applicants having sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL; n = 124) were within 10-19 years and 40-49 years (19.35% each), with 12% being ≧ 60 years (age-associated hearing loss). Of the 13 applicants of age ≦ 12 years, eight were diagnosed with brainstem evoked response audiometry, and 10 had HI score of ≥ 70%. Muslim population with SNHL tended to avail certification 1.34 times more than the Hindus. Most of the applicants with mixed hearing loss (MHL; n = 24) were in their fifth and sixth decades (29.2% each), with three times male preponderance. Among the malingerers, the average malingering impairment was 66% (median: 61%; range 44-100%). Among the SNHL population, ~ 30% had HI at 90-100% in contrast to the MHL population of whom 8% had HI at > 90% and 29% had HI at 40- < 55%. Ten applicants among the organic hearing loss group (6.76%) (two with SNHL; eight with MHL) had HI scores of < 40% and were considered ineligible for certification. The outcomes of the review provided a comprehensive account of the socio-demographic profile of the applicants for handicap certification and the type of hearing loss prevailing in a given population. These data, and the severity stratification of the hearing disability through the HI% scale would provide the policymakers and stakeholders with proper directions to work upon.

Zombies, again? The COVID-19 business support programs in Japan.

We design and conduct a firm-level survey on the use of COVID-19-related government programs, in collaboration with Tokyo Shoko Research, LTD (TSR). Combining the survey results with the financial statements of the respondent firms, we investigate the factors behind the allocation of various government programs. We find that firms that had low credit scores in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, were more likely to apply for and receive the subsidies and concessional loans offered by the Japanese government in 2020, controlling for the sales growth after the onset of the pandemic. Firms with low credit scores are not necessarily zombies, which are defined to be the firms that are non-viable but kept alive by assistance from creditors and/or the government. Our result suggests that the government assistance may have subsidized some poorly performing firms that were not yet zombies before the pandemic.

Evaluación de la calidad universitaria: pasado y presente en la búsqueda de la excelencia académica / Evaluation of university quality: past and present in the pursuit of academic excellence

Fundamento: desde sus inicios, la Revolución cubana estimuló la excelencia académica en sus universidades, lo cual constituyó uniformidad en el discurso y accionar de funcionarios del Ministerio de Educación Superior. Objetivo: caracterizar la evaluación de la calidad universitaria como vía para el logro de la excelencia académica en diferentes momentos históricos de la Revolución cubana. Métodos: se realizó una investigación cualitativa en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara, en septiembre 2023. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos: histórico-lógico, análisis-síntesis y generalización; empíricos: análisis documental y entrevista a informantes clave. Resultados: se analizaron varias intervenciones de funcionarios del Ministerio de Educación Superior que fueron estableciendo una política vinculada hacia la búsqueda de la excelencia académica universitaria en Cuba, las que unidas a criterios de estudiosos latinoamericanos fueron conformando un tránsito hacia procesos de evaluación estipulados por la Junta de Acreditación Nacional, en los cuales se evalúa la calidad universitaria a partir de la acreditación y reacreditación de sus instituciones. Los informantes clave confirmaron la validez de estos procesos en el contexto de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara. Conclusiones: los conceptos de universidad y calidad se han ido modificando a través de la vida revolucionaria cubana; expresados en el vínculo constante con la sociedad, los valores humanistas del pueblo y su tradición de lucha. La universidad debe estar inmersa en un ambiente de búsqueda de su pertinencia y calidad; de ahí la importancia de implicarse en procesos de evaluación y revaluación por la Junta Nacional de Acreditación.

Background: from its beginnings, the Cuban Revolution stimulated academic excellence in its universities, which constituted uniformity in the speech and actions of officials of the Ministry of Higher Education. Objective: analyze the involvement of the Cuban Revolution in the search for academic excellence and its derivation towards university accreditation and reaccreditation processes. Methods: a qualitative investigation was carried out at Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences , in September 2023. Theoretical methods were used: historical-logical, analysis-synthesis and generalization; Empirical ones: documentary analysis and interviews with key informants. Results: several interventions by officials of the Ministry of Higher Education were analyzed that were shaping and establishing a policy linked to the search for university academic excellence in Cuba, which, together with criteria from Latin American scholars, were granting a transition towards evaluation processes stipulated by the National Accreditation Board, in which university quality is strengthened through the accreditation and reaccreditation of its institutions. Key informants confirmed the validity of these processes, in the context of the Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences. Conclusions: the concepts of university and quality have been modified throughout Cuban revolutionary life; expressed in the constant link with society, the humanist values of the people and their tradition of struggle. The university must be immersed in an environment of search for its relevance and quality; hence its importance of getting involved in evaluation and reevaluation processes by the National Accreditation Board.

Geospatialization of tuberculosis and income transfer programs among Indigenous peoples in an endemic territory / Geoespacialización de la tuberculosis y los programas de transferencia de renta entre indígenas en territorio endémico / Geoespacialização da tuberculose e os programas de transferência de renda entre indígenas em território endêmico

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the spatial pattern of tuberculosis in Indigenous peoples from the State of Pará and its correlation with income transfer. Methods: Ecological study, with 340 cases reported in Indigenous peoples in the State of Pará, Brazil, in the period 2016-2020. The study performed a descriptive analysis and calculation of incidence rates with smoothing by the local empirical Bayesian method. The Global Moran index assessed the autocorrelation of the rates with income transfer data, p<0,05. Results: The Marajó and metropolitan mesoregions of Belém had the highest tuberculosis rates, and a reduced number of people benefited from income transfer (high-low correlation). The study identified high rates, and a significant number of people benefited from financial aid (high correlation high), I=0.399, p=0.027 in the Southwest. Conclusions: The spatial autocorrelation between tuberculosis and access to income transfer programs constitutes a relevant subsidy for the formulation of social protection policies and may impact the disease control actions in Indigenous territories, valuing the epidemiological heterogeneity identified in the mesoregions.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar patrón espacial de tuberculosis en indígenas de Pará y su correlación con transferencia de renta. Métodos: Estudio ecológico, con 340 casos notificados en indígenas en Pará/Brasil, entre 2016-2020. Realizado análisis descriptivo y cálculo de tasas de incidencia con moderación por el método bayesiano empírico local. Hecho autocorrelación de tasas con datos de transferencia de renta por Moran Global, p<0,05. Resultados: Las mesorregiones Marajó y Metropolitana de Belém presentaron las tasas de tuberculosis mayores y reducido número de personas beneficiadas con transferencia de renta (correlación alto-bajo). En el Sudoeste, identificaron tasas elevadas y número significativo de personas beneficiadas con auxilios financieros (correlación alto-alto), I=0,399, p=0,027. Conclusiones: La autocorrelación espacial entre tuberculosis y acceso a programas de transferencia de renta constituye importante subsidio para formulación de políticas de protección social, pudiendo impactar las acciones de control de la enfermedad en territorios indígenas, valorizando la heterogeneidad epidemiológica identificada en las mesorregiones.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar o padrão espacial de tuberculose em indígenas do Pará e sua correlação com transferência de renda. Métodos: Estudo ecológico, com 340 casos notificados em indígenas no Pará/Brasil, no período 2016-2020. Realizou-se análise descritiva e cálculo das taxas de incidência com suavização pelo método bayesiano empírico local. Fez-se autocorrelação das taxas com dados de transferência de renda pelo Moran Global, p<0,05. Resultados: As mesorregiões Marajó e Metropolitana de Belém apresentaram as taxas de tuberculose mais elevadas e reduzido número de pessoas beneficiadas com transferência de renda (correlação alto-baixo). No Sudoeste, identificaram se taxas elevadas e número significativo de pessoas beneficiadas com os auxílios financeiros (correlação alto alto), I=0,399, p=0,027. Conclusões: A autocorrelação espacial entre tuberculose e acesso a programas de transferência de renda constitui importante subsídio para formulação de políticas de proteção social, podendo impactar as ações de controle da doença nos territórios indígenas, valorizando a heterogeneidade epidemiológica identificada nas mesorregiões.

Gerontogeriatría en el curso propio "Envejecimiento". Plan de estudios "D" de la carrera de Medicina / Gerontogeriatrics in the own course "Aging". Study plan "D" of the Medicine career

Fundamento: el sector cubano de salud, además de garantizar una atención médico-social al adulto mayor, tiene la misión de formar los recursos humanos especializados en esta área del conocimiento, desde el pregrado en las carreras de las ciencias médicas, y de forma continua y sostenida hasta el posgrado; por lo que se precisa observar el tratamiento de los contenidos relacionados con la Gerontogeriatría en los planes de estudio. Objetivo: caracterizar la representación de la Gerontogeriatría en el curso propio "Envejecimiento" del Plan de estudios "D" de la carrera de Medicina en Cuba. Métodos: se realizó una investigación educativa observacional, descriptiva. Se desarrolló una amplia revisión documental de los planes de estudio y el diseño del curso propio "Envejecimiento" del Plan de estudios "D", precisando el análisis de sus contenidos y su aporte a la Gerontogeriatría. Resultados: se constató que el curso permite la enseñanza de la Gerontología y Geriatría, diseñado con tres objetivos y cinco temas, y contenidos que favorecen la formación gerontogeriátrica en el desempeño de la función de atención médica integral al particular proceso salud enfermedad que se expresa en el adulto mayor. Conclusiones: la Gerontogeriatría está presente en el curso propio "Envejecimiento", representada fundamentalmente con este diseño académico en todo el vigente Plan de estudios "D".

Background: the Cuban health branch, in addition to guaranteeing medical-social care for the elderly, has the mission of training specialized human resources in this area of knowledge, from undergraduate in medical sciences careers, and continuously and sustained until postgraduate; Therefore, it is necessary to observe the treatment of the contents related to Gerontogeriatrics in the study plans. Objective: to characterize the representation of Gerontogeriatrics in the own course "Aging" of the Study Plan "D" of the Medicine career in Cuba. Methods: an observational, descriptive educational research was carried out. An extensive documentary review of the study plans and the design of the own course "Aging" of the Study Plan "D" was carried out, specifying the analysis of its contents and its contribution to Gerontogeriatrics. Results: it was verified that the course allows the teaching of Gerontology and Geriatrics, designed with three objectives and five topics, and contents that favor gerontology and geriatric training in the performance of the function of comprehensive medical attention to the particular health-disease process that is expressed in the elderly. Conclusions: Gerontogeriatrics is present in the own course "Aging", fundamentally represented with this academic design throughout the current Curriculum "D".

Insegurança Alimentar e Nutricional de beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família / Food and Nutritional Insecurity of Bolsa Família Program Beneficiaries

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a condição de insegurança alimentar e nutricional de famílias beneficiárias do Programa Bolsa Família, residentes no distrito sanitário oeste do município de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Trata-se de um estudo transversal de um recorte populacional realizado de janeiro a outubro de 2018 com entrevista a 246 titulares do Programa Bolsa Família. Foram coletadas variáveis socioeconômicas, demográficas e insegurança alimentar e nutricional por meio da escala brasileira de insegurança alimentar. A insegurança alimentar e nutricional foi de 94,3%, das quais 27,6% apresentavam o nível moderado e 25,6% o grave. Houve predomínio de titulares do sexo feminino (97,6%), cor/ raça parda (54,9%), baixa escolaridade (53,3%) e desempregados (64,6%). A maior frequência de famílias beneficiárias pertencia ao estrato social intermediário (54%), residiam em casa própria (62,6%) e com crianças menores de sete anos (57,7%). Quanto às famílias, 60,4% recebiam o benefício há mais de 48 meses, 74,3% recebiam o valor de R$ 200,00 ou menos e 70,7% utilizavam a maior proporção para aquisição de alimentos. Evidenciou-se elevada vulnerabilidade das famílias estudadas, apontando a situação de privação alimentar e/ou fome experimentadas pelas famílias.

This study aims to evaluate the food and nutritional insecurity of families benefiting from the Bolsa Família Program residing in the western health district of the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. This is a cross-sectional study of a population subset carried out from January to October 2018 through interviews with 246 participants of the Bolsa Família Program. Socioeconomic and demographic variables and food and nutritional insecurity data were collected using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Food and nutritional insecurity were at 94.3%, of which 27.6% had a moderate level, and 25.6% had a severe level. There was a predominance of female heads of households (97.6%), mixed-race ethnicity (54.9%), a low education level (53.3%), and unemployed individuals (64.6%). The highest frequency of beneficiary families belonged to the intermediate social stratum (54%), resided in their own homes (62.6%), and had children under seven years old (57.7%). Regarding the families, 60.4% had received the benefit for more than 48 months, 74.3% received an amount of R$ 200.00 or less, and 70.7% used most of the funds to purchase food. The study highlighted a high vulnerability among the families, indicating a situation of food deprivation and/or hunger experienced by the families.

A Descriptive Analysis of Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID)-Certified Visually Disabled Patients at a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Central India.

Objective In this study, we aimed to examine the demographic characteristics, causes, and severity of visual disability and the reasons for seeking disability certificates among Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID)-certified visually disabled patients at a tertiary eye care center in central India. Materials and methods A retrospective observational analysis of medical records and data from the UDID portal involving 600 visually disabled individuals who were certified between February 2019 to March 2022 was performed. Demographic characteristics, diagnosis of the ocular disease, primary etiology, and percentage and grade of visual disability, as well as the main reasons for seeking a visual disability certificate, were analyzed statistically. Best-corrected visual acuity of less than 6/24 to 3/60 or a visual field less than 40 degrees to 10 degrees around the center of fixation or hemianopia involving the macula in the better eye were included in the low-vision category. Best corrected visual acuity of less than 3/60 to "no light perception" or visual field less than 10 degrees around the center of fixation in the better eye were included in the blindness category. Results Out of the total 600 patients, 214 (35.67%) were in the age group of 11-30 years. There were more males (63.67%) than females (36.33%) in the study. Four hundred patients (66.67%) had 100% disability. Retinal diseases (n=229, 48.50%) including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (n=130, 21.67%) were the most common cause of visual disability. Travel concessions and Government allowances were the most common reasons for seeking a disability certificate. Conclusion The study highlights the leading causes of visual disability, and RP was found to be the most common one. Avoidance of consanguineous marriages and genetic counseling should be made mandatory to prevent blindness due to RP. We recommend the widespread institution of eye care facilities, increasing the availability of healthcare facilities to all, and community education to eliminate avoidable blindness. This study provides key data to the Government to implement new policies or change the existing ones, plan for future strategies, and prioritize the rehabilitation of visually disabled individuals. Government programs to increase awareness among unregistered visually disabled patients regarding the benefits and rehabilitative measures like UDID card and low vision aids is the need of the hour.

Considerações estruturais sobre o exercício do cargo da presidência das Comissões de Ética do Sistema de Gestão da Ética do Poder Executivo Federal (SGEPEF) / Structural considerations on the exercise of the presidency of the Ethics Commissions of the Ethics Management System of the Federal Executive Branch (SGEPEF) / Consideraciones estructurales sobre el ejercicio de la presidencia de las Comisiones de Ética del Sistema de Gestión de Ética del Ejecutivo Federal (SGEPEF)

Este artigo busca sistematizar conhecimentos advindos do exercício da presidência de comissão de ética de instituição pública de ciência e tecnologia, pivô de articulação e integração de inúmeros vetores, ao reunir aprendizagens, princípios e diretrizes, com o objetivo de delinear novas linhas de ação aos ocupantes desse cargo. Partindo do pressuposto de que a atuação no campo ético é práxis política em constante dinamismo e problematização, da utilização de uma abordagem metodológica estruturalista, na qual cada elemento dá significado e é, por sua vez, significado pelos demais, e da definição de quatro grandes dimensões de atuação no Policy Cycle, buscamos apontar diferentes efeitos sistêmicos e de estrutura da operacionalização do Sistema de Gestão da Ética do Poder Executivo Federal (SGEPEF), com seu marco legal e temporal em crescente institucionalização e legitimação. Concluímos indicando novas possibilidades sistêmicas e estruturais no campo ético para avanços e inovação na gestão pública, gerando, assim, ambiente de trabalho mais humanizado e saudável, com amplo desenvolvimento organizacional

This article seeks to systematize knowledge arising from the exercise of the presidency of the ethics committee of a public institution of science and technology, pivot of articulation and integration of numerous vectors, bringing together learning, principles and guidelines, with the objective of outlining new lines of action for the occupants of this office. Assuming that acting in the ethical field is political praxis in constant dynamism and problematization, using a structuralist methodological approach where each element gives meaning and is, in turn, signified by the other elements, and defining four major dimensions of action in the Policy Cycle, we seek to point out different systemic and structural effects of the operationalization of the Ethics Management System of the Federal Executive Branch (SGEPEF), with its legal and temporal framework in increasing institutionalization and legitimation. We conclude by indicating new systemic and structural possibilities in the ethical field for advances and innovation in public management, generating a more humanized and healthy work environment, with broad organizational development.

Este artículo busca sistematizar los saberes surgidos del ejercicio de la presidencia del comité de ética de una institución pública de ciencia y tecnología, pivote de articulación e integración de numerosos vectores, reuniendo aprendizajes, principios y lineamientos, con el objetivo de trazar nuevas líneas de acción para los ocupantes de esta posición. Asumiendo que actuar en el campo ético es una praxis política en constante dinamización y problematización, desde un enfoque metodológico estructuralista donde cada elemento da sentido y es, a su vez, significado por los demás, y definiendo cuatro grandes dimensiones de acción en el Ciclo Político, buscamos señalar distintos efectos sistémicos y estructurales de la operativización del Sistema de Gestión de Ética del Poder Ejecutivo Federal (SGEPEF), con su marco legal y temporal en creciente institucionalización y legitimación. Concluimos señalando nuevas posibilidades sistémicas y estructurales en el campo ético para el avance y la innovación en la gestión pública, generando un ambiente de trabajo más humanizado y saludable, con amplio desarrollo organizacional.

[Démystifier les fake news concernant Nutri-Score]. / Debunking fake news about Nutri- Score.

DEBUNKING FAKE NEWS ABOUT NUTRI-SCORE The Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack nutrition label (FoPNL) officially adopted in France to be affixed on food packaging. It is intended to allow to easily compare the nutritional quality of foods and help consumers to orient their choices towards better nutritional quality alternatives. It is a sciencebased public health tool. But the agri-food lobbies are opposed to its deployment and they spread out many fake news aimed at discrediting Nutri-Score. These fake news are sometimes taken up by people in good faith who do not know enough about the issue FoPNL or by certain actors defending economic or sometimes ideological interests. This article aims to debunk some of these fake news widely relayed by lobbies.

DÉMYSTIFIER LES FAKE NEWS CONCERNANT NUTRI-SCORE Le Nutri-Score est un logo d'information nutritionnelle adopté officiellement en France pour être apposé sur la face avant des emballages des aliments. Il est destiné à permettre aux consommateurs de comparer la qualité nutritionnelle des aliments et les aider à orienter leurs choix vers les alternatives de meilleure qualité nutritionnelle. Il s'agit d'un outil de santé publique fondé sur la science. Mais les lobbies agroalimentaires s'opposent à son déploiement et font circuler de nombreuses fake news visant à discréditer Nutri-Score. Ces fake news sont parfois reprises par des personnes de bonne foi qui ne connaissent pas suffisamment la problématique des logos nutritionnels ou par certains acteurs défendant des intérêts économiques ou parfois idéologiques. Cet article vise à démystifier quelques-unes de ces fake news largement relayées par les lobbies.

Strategies for the Psychological Support of the Healthcare Workforce during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The ERNST Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of interventions to provide emotional and psychological support to healthcare workers in many countries. This ecological study aims to describe the strategies implemented in different countries to support healthcare professionals during the outbreak. Data were collected through an online survey about the measures to address the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers. Healthcare professionals, researchers, and academics were invited to respond to the survey. Fifty-six professionals from 35 countries contributed data to this study. Ten countries (28.6%) reported that they did not launch any national interventions. Both developed and developing countries launched similar initiatives. There was no relationship between the existence of any type of initiative in a country with the incidence, lethality, and mortality rates of the country due to COVID-19, and per capita income in 2020. The 24 h hotline for psychological support was the most frequent intervention. Tools for self-rescue by using apps or websites were extensively used, too. Other common interventions were the development of action protocols, availability of regular and updated information, implantation of distance learning systems, early detection of infection programs for professionals, economic reinforcements, hiring of staff reinforcement, and modification of leave and vacation dates.

An Analysis of the Deleterious Impact of the Infodemic during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: A Case Study Considering Possible Correlations with Socioeconomic Aspects of Brazilian Demography.

Due to COVID-19, a huge amount of incorrect information has been disseminated on the internet, which may interfere with the disease's advance. This study analyzes the behavior of the Brazilian population during the pandemic, employing queries of infodemic data searched on Google Trends and relating them to socioeconomic and political indicators in the country. The z-score technique was used to standardize the data; and for multivalued analysis, dendrograms and the Elbow method detected similar patterns among Brazilian states. The result was divided into three analyses. In the analysis of the research trend of infodemic terms, the themes "Prevention and Beliefs" and "Treatment" prevailed. In the exploratory analysis, socioeconomic indicators related to income and education, as well as government programs, showed no impact on infodemic searches; but the results suggest that the states that supported the Brazilian president in the 2018 election, where he obtained more than 50% of the votes, were the states that most searched for infodemic terms: a total of 46.58% more infodemic searches than in the other states. In the multivalued analysis, the socioeconomic indicators used showed similarities in the patterns, highlighting a cluster containing 77% of all Brazilian states. The study concludes that denial about the pandemic and the influence of political leadership can influence infodemic information searches, contributing to a disorganization in the control of disease control and prevention measures.

Evaluating network adequacy of oral health services for children on Medicaid in Arizona.

PURPOSE: Inadequate networks can prevent patients from being able to see the providers that they trust and depend upon, especially for children insured through Medicaid. To improve our understanding of poor oral health care outcomes, we conducted a test of network adequacy among Medicaid pediatric dental providers in Arizona through a "secret shopper" phone survey. METHODS: This study tested multiple components of children's access to oral health care, including reliability of provider directory information, appointment availability at the practice level for children covered under Medicaid versus commercial insurance, and compliance with regulatory standards. We contacted individual providers, following a standardized script to schedule a routine appointment on behalf of a 5-year-old patient enrolled in either a Medicaid or commercial plan. We documented the time until the next available appointment, if the practice was reached, and if the practice accepted the specified insurance plan. RESULTS: We identified, catalogued, and attempted to call a total of 185 unique practices across Arizona. In four counties, we were unable to identify a single pediatric oral health provider through health plan directories. We observed minimal differences in appointment wait times between callers with commercial insurance and those insured through Medicaid. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the need to improve the accessibility of pediatric health services, especially in rural regions. Facilitating access to routine and recommended oral health screenings for children enrolled in Medicaid is imperative to appropriate stewardship and fulfilling our commitment to provide this vital public health resource.

Informal Caregiver Support Policies Change Use of Vocational Assistance Services for Individuals With Disabilities.

Support policies for caregivers improves care-recipient access to care and effects may generalize to nonhealth services. Using administrative data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans <55 years, we assessed the association between enrollment in a VA caregiver support program and veteran use of vocational assistance services: the post-9/11 GI Bill, VA vocational rehabilitation and employment (VR&E), and supported employment. We applied instrumental variables to Cox proportional hazards models. Caregiver enrollment in the program increased veteran supported employment use (hazard ratio = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [1.14, 1.53]), decreased VR&E use (hazard ratio = 0.84, 95% confidence interval [0.76, 0.92]), and had no effect on the post-9/11 GI Bill. Caregiver support policies could increase access to some vocational assistance for individuals with disabilities, particularly supported employment, which is integrated into health care. Limited coordination between health and employment sectors and misaligned incentives may have inhibited effects for the post-9/11 GI Bill and VR&E.

Acesso aos benefícios e programas governamentais e insegurança alimentar nas áreas rurais e urbanas do Nordeste brasileiro / Access to governmental programs/benefits and food insecurity in urban and rural areas of Northeast Brazil

Resumo O trabalho analisa a insegurança alimentar (IA) nas áreas urbana e rural da região Nordeste do Brasil e sua associação com fatores sociais e o acesso a benefícios/programas governamentais. Foram avaliados dados sobre IA da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (2017-2018), considerando variáveis socioeconômicas e o acesso a benefícios/programas governamentais de transferência de renda (Bolsa Família, Benefício de Prestação Continuada, Cartão Alimentação e Cesta de Alimentos). Modelos de regressão logística multinomial tendo IA como desfecho foram utilizados para avaliar a relação com os programas governamentais. Metade das famílias se encontrava em IA, sendo maior a prevalência e gravidade nos domicílios rurais. A composição da família por ao menos um indivíduo aposentado reduziu significativamente a probabilidade de ocorrência dos níveis mais severos da IA. O acesso à Cesta de Alimentos (em dinheiro) e ao Bolsa Família associou-se como fator de proteção para a IA grave na área rural; na área urbana, o benefício Cartão Alimentação foi o principal fator de proteção. Programas de transferência de renda e o acesso a benefícios sociais contribuíram para o enfrentamento da IA, destacando a relevância da manutenção e ampliação dessas iniciativas para populações vulnerabilizadas.

Abstract This paper analyzes food insecurity (FI) in urban and rural areas of the Northeast region of Brazil associated with certain social determinants and access to governmental benefits/programs. Data about FI from the National Household Budget Survey (2017-2018) were analyzed, including socio-economic variables and access to government benefits/programs of supplemental income (Bolsa Família, Ongoing transfer benefits, Food voucher and Food basket). Multinomial logistic regression models were performed to assess the relationship between FI and access to government programs/benefits. Half of the families in the Northeast were classified as being subject to FI, the prevalence and severity being higher in rural households. The composition of the family, with at least one retired individual, significantly reduced the probability of being FI at all levels of severity. Access to the Food basket (in cash) benefit and Bolsa Família was associated with being a factor of protection against severe FI in rural areas, while in urban areas the food voucher benefit was the main factor of protection. Income transfer programs and access to social benefits contribute to combatting FI, highlighting the importance of maintaining and scaling-up these initiatives for vulnerable populations.

Tão perto e tão longe: trajetória da agroecologia na agenda brasileira de políticas públicas / So close and so far: trajectory of agroecology on the Brazilian public policy agenda

RESUMO Entendida como uma mudança paradigmática, a agroecologia foi incluída na agenda de políticas públicas do Estado brasileiro só muito recentemente. Em meio a disputas, cumpriu uma interessante trajetória, constituindo um arranjo de governança e construindo instrumentos relevantes, mas, desde o ano de 2016, não foi capaz de reunir condições para seu fortalecimento, com indícios que sugerem a sua extinção. Diante do exposto, o objetivo do artigo foi discutir essa trajetória de ascensão e extinção da política de agroecologia, tomando por base suportes teóricos e elementos do ambiente político-institucional que sugerem a fragilização como etapa antecedente da extinção. Para a elaboração do artigo, foi realizada revisão bibliográfica com autores de diversos campos do conhecimento que possibilitaram problematizar o objeto. Além disso, foi feito um levantamento nas fontes oficiais no sentido de caracterizar a política da agroecologia, seus instrumentos de gestão e governança, e, por fim, documentos oficiais e outros acontecimentos recentes que indicam seu enfraquecimento. Nesse sentido, o artigo concluiu que o curto percurso feito pelo arranjo institucional da agroecologia se mostrou uma experiência exitosa, mas não o suficiente para resistir a agendas conservadoras dos governos recentes.

ABSTRACT Understood as a paradigm shift, agroecology was included in the public policy agenda of the Brazilian State only very recently. It had an interesting trajectory, in the midst of disputes, constituting a governance arrangement and building relevant instruments, but has not been able to meet the conditions for its strengthening, since 2016, with signs that point to the extinction of agroecology as a policy. Given the aforementioned, the objective of the article is to discuss such a trajectory of ascension and extinction, based on theoretical supports and elements of the institutional political environment that suggest fragility as a precedent stage of extinction. For the preparation of the article, a bibliographic review was carried out with authors from different fields of knowledge that allowed to problematize the object, in addition, a survey was carried out with official sources in order to characterize the agroecological policy, its management and governance instruments, and finally, official documents and other recent events that indicate its weakening. In this sense, the article concluded that the short path traveled by the institutional arrangement of agroecology turned out to be a successful experience, but not enough to resist the conservative agendas of recent administrations.

Protección al adulto mayor: necesario enfoque multidimensional por profesionales de la salud en Cuba / Protection of the elderly: a necessary multidimensional approach by health professionals in Cuba

RESUMEN Introducción: los pronósticos demográficos avizoran que el envejecimiento será uno de los más serios problemas que enfrente la humanidad en este siglo: de allí la necesidad del enfoque multidimensional por los profesionales de la salud. Objetivo: analizar con fines educativos los mecanismos existentes de protección del adulto mayor para un enfoque multidimensional por los profesionales de la salud en Cuba. Métodos: se realizó una revisión de fuentes bibliográficas en SciELO, Google Académico y artículos de revistas impresas y digitales. Se seleccionaron 25 textos por su pertinencia con el estudio. Se evaluaron publicaciones en idioma español de autores cubanos y extranjeros, fundamentalmente de países iberoamericanos. El análisis se centró en libros, tesis, documentos legales y artículos publicados en los últimos 10 años, aunque también se referencian otros de más larga data, por ser clásicos en el tema. Desarrollo: Se constató la existencia de varias políticas médicas y sociales para proteger los adultos mayores e instituciones jurídicas que pueden utilizarse. Para una correcta evaluación multidimensional, los profesionales del sector cubano de la salud necesitan conocer las regulaciones jurídicas referentes a los adultos mayores y el código de familia que regula el derecho de la población de la tercera edad. Conclusiones: Cuba se ubica entre los países con un estado de envejecimiento avanzado; la respuesta estatal al crecimiento del envejecimiento poblacional se ha dirigido, fundamentalmente, a la atención médica y la protección a través de la seguridad social.

ABSTRACT Introduction: demographic forecasts predict that aging will be one of the most serious problems facing humanity in this century: hence the need for a multidimensional approach by health professionals. Objective: to analyze for educational purposes the existing protection mechanisms for the elderly for a multidimensional approach by health professionals in Cuba. Methods: a review of bibliographic sources was carried out in SciELO, Google Scholar and articles from printed and electronic magazines. 25 texts were selected for their relevance to the study. Publications in Spanish by Cuban and foreign authors, mainly from Ibero-American countries, were evaluated. The analysis focused on books, theses, legal documents and articles published in the last 10 years, although others of longer standing are also referenced, as they are classics on the subject. Development: The existence of several medical and social policies to protect older adults and legal institutions that can be used was verified. For a correct multidimensional evaluation, professionals in the Cuban health branch need to know the legal regulations regarding the elderly and the family code that regulates the right of the elderly population. Conclusions: Cuba is located among the countries with a state of advanced aging; The state response to the growth of the aging population has been directed, fundamentally, at medical care and protection through social security.