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BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic represented a shock for healthcare systems. Italy was one of the first country to deal with a huge number of patients to be diagnosed, isolated, and treated with scarce evidence-based guidelines and resources. Several organizational and structural changes were needed to face the pandemic at local level. The article aims at studying the perceived impact of the newly implemented District Operation Centres (DOCs) of Local Health Authority (LHA) Roma 1 in managing active surveillance and home care of COVID-19 patients and their close contacts in cooperation with general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: A questionnaire, developed according to Delphi methodology, was validated by 7 experts and administered to a randomized sample of GPs and family paediatricians (FPs). All medical doctors selected received a phone interview between December 2020 and January 2021. The questionnaire investigated general characteristics of the sample, relations with DOC and its usefulness, and potential developments. A descriptive analysis was performed and inferential statistical tests were used to assess differences. RESULTS: In April 2020 the LHA Roma 1 implemented one DOCs in each local health district. 215 medical doctors were interviewed, reaching the sample target for health districts (80% CL and 10% MOE) and the whole LHA (90% CL and 5% MOE). Several aspects in the management of COVID-19 cases and close contacts of COVID-19 cases, and of the support of DOCs to GPs/FPs were investigated. More than 55% of the GPs and FPs interviewed found the DOCs useful and more than 78% would recommend a service DOC-like to other LHAs. The medical professionals interviewed would use DOCs in the future as support in treating vulnerable patients, utilizing digital health tools, enlisting specialist doctors, establishing networks, and facilitating professional counselling by nurses. CONCLUSIONS: This study is an attempt to evaluate an organizational change happened during COVID-19 pandemic. DOCs were created to support GPs and FPs as a link between primary healthcare and public health. Although several difficulties were disclosed, DOCs' experience can help to overcome the fragmentation of the systems and the duality between primary care and public health and make the system more resilient.
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COVID-19 , Médicos Generales , Servicios de Atención de Salud a Domicilio , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Pandemias , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused millions of Ukrainian refugees to flee to other nations. To provide the most appropriate assistance, host nations necessitate up-to-date information regarding Ukrainian refugee's demographic and epidemiological conditions. We aim to investigate the demographic composition, the COVID-19 vaccinations performed, specialist care provided and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in refugees assisted by an Italian Local Health Authority (LHA). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis from March to June 2022, analyzing the demographic and epidemiological status of Ukrainians. Statistical analyses were carried out to assess possible associations between NCDs distribution, age and gender. RESULTS: LHA Roma 1 assisted 9349 Ukrainian refugees. Of these, 2784 (29.8%) were males and 6565 (70.2%) were females, with a median age of 25 years. Two thousand four hundred and eighty-five Ukrainian refugees were vaccinated against COVID-19. Among them, 401 (16.1%) had at least one NCD. The most frequent groups of diseases were related to the circulatory system (50.6%), the endocrine system (24.9%), and mental and behavioral disorders (6.5%). CONCLUSION: Refugees need healthcare services targeted mainly towards minors and females. It is essential to analyze and monitor the demographic and epidemiological conditions to provide evidence about patient management and the best care integrated into the health service of host countries.
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BACKGROUND: The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has strained the health systems of countries that welcome war refugees on all levels, from national to local. Despite the Public Health guidelines regarding assistance being published on the topic, the scientific literature currently lacks evidence on the experience of applying theory in practice. This study aims to describe evidence-based practices that were implemented and to provide a detailed description of emerging problems and solutions pertaining Ukrainian refugee assistance in the context of one of the biggest Local Health Authorities in Italy (LHA Roma 1). METHODS: LHA Roma 1 developed a strategic plan based on local expertise, national and international guidelines to ensure infectious disease prevention and control, as well as continuity of care for non-communicable diseases and mental health. RESULTS: The insertion of Ukrainian refugees in the National Health System through an identification code assignment and other services such as COVID-19 swab and vaccination were provided either in one of the three major assistance hubs or in local district level ambulatories spread throughout the LHA. Many challenges were faced during the implementation phase of the outlined practice guidelines, which required sensible and timely solutions. These challenges include the necessity of rapid resource provision, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers, guaranteeing a standard of care across multiple sites and coordination of interventions. Public Private Partnerships, the creation of a centralized multicultural and multidisciplinary team and the mutually beneficial collaboration with the local Ukrainian community were essential to guarantee the success of all operations. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of LHA Roma 1 helps shed light on the importance of leadership in emergency settings and how a dynamic relationship between policy and practice would allow each intervention to be modulated according to the local environment, to better realize the potential of local realities to provide appropriate health interventions to all those in need.
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COVID-19 , Refugiados , Romaní , Humanos , Política Pública , Política de SaludRESUMEN
Background: Telemedical approaches represent a valuable tool for the management of coronavirus disease 2019 patients, allowing daily clinical assessment, monitoring of vital parameters, remote visits, and prescription of treatment or hospitalization in case of clinical worsening. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the use, barriers and facilitators of the "Lazio ADVICE" telemedical platform, a regional system for remote assistance for coronavirus disease 2019 patients at home, according to General Practitioners and Family Pediatricians of the Local Health Authority Roma 1, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: An interview-based survey was performed between December 2020 and January 2021. The survey investigated the demographic information of General Practitioner and Family Pediatricians, the knowledge of the platform, frequency of utilization, usefulness, strengths and weaknesses, and hypothesis of future implementation proposed. Results: We interviewed 214 physicians and 89 (41.6%) were classified as users and 125 (58.4%) as non-users. Older age and working in District 1, 14 and 15 (vs. District 13) significantly reduced the probability of using the platform physician. Among the 89 users, 19 (21.3%) used the platform every day or even several times a day, 40 (44.9%) several times a week but less than one access per day, 30 (33.7%) used the platform several times a month up to one entry per week. Most of them (92.3%) consider the platform useful. Barriers were poor integration with software and work routine (76.4%), and usability issues (53.9%). Among the 125 non-users, 14 (11.2%) didn't know the existence of the platform, 60 (48.0%) never tried it and 51 (40.8%) tried to use it. Reported reasons for the interruption of use were not very user-friendly (45.1%), perceived useless (37.3%), non-optimal functioning (23.5%), and lack of time (19.6%). Conclusion: The pandemic accelerated the implementation of telemedicine services around Lazio Region, starting a positive and continuous exchange of experiences, activities and best practices among physicians.
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Growing evidence is emerging on the higher risk of infection and adverse outcomes for the most disadvantaged groups of the population, and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns worldwide are struggling to ensure equitable access to immunization for all. From 21 June 2021 to 15 October 2021, the Local Health Unit ASL Roma 1 adopted a tailored immunization strategy to reach socially vulnerable groups of the population with the primary vaccination course. This strategy was developed with a step-by-step, participatory approach. Through engagement with internal and external stakeholders, target groups were identified, potential barriers analyzed, solutions discussed, and tailored interventions designed. Over nine thousand individuals from among irregular migrants, homeless people and hard-to-reach communities were contacted and vaccinated.
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The COVID-19 pandemic called for a reorganisation of the methods for providing health services. The aim of this paper is to describe the organisational model implemented by one of Rome's Local Health Units (LHU), ASL Roma 1, for the "at-home COVID-19 vaccination campaign" dedicated to a target population and to outline data related to vaccination coverage stratified by health districts. A cross-sectional study was designed to describe the strategies implemented by LHU to deliver at-home vaccination programmes. People eligible for the at-home vaccination programme included patients living in the area of the LHU, being assisted by the district home care centre or not transportable or individuals with social situations that make traveling difficult. Priority for vaccination was given to (I) age > 80 years, (II) ventilated patients with no age limit, (III) very seriously disabled people with no age limit. Patients' data were acquired from regional and LHU databases. From 5 February until the 16 May, 6127 people got at least one dose of Pfizer-Biontech Comirnaty® vaccine, while 5278 (86.14%) completed the necessary two doses. The highest number of vaccines was administered during the first week of April, reaching 1296 doses overall. The number of vaccines administered were similar across the districts. The average number of people vaccinated at home was 6 per 1000 inhabitants in the LHU. This model proved to be extremely complex but effective, reaching satisfying results in terms of vaccination coverage.
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OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of our hearing screening program, prior to hospital discharge, together with the consistency of our teamwork including first year residents by assessing a learning curve for the operators involved. METHODS: We evaluated all the data collected during the first stage of the screening program of all non-NICU neonates from March 2009 to July 2013, analyzing by means of a linear regression model, the monthly referral rate for the whole period of activity of each group of residents. RESULTS: performances of each group of screeners were statistically different (chi square test p < 0.005). The nptrend test showed that group 2 (p = 0.01) and group 4 (p = 0.01) reached a statistical significance in higher and lower referral rates respectively. No statistical differences were found in other groups (Group 1 p = 0.161; Group 3 p = 0.853). CONCLUSION: Despite a statistically significant difference in the performances between the groups of residents, the referral rates for each group (range 6.18%-9.29%) and the overall referral rate for the whole period (7.84%) agree with the values commonly reported for TEOAEs in the literature. It means that our screening program is reasonably effective despite a yearly turnover of operators.
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Internado y Residencia , Curva de Aprendizaje , Tamizaje Neonatal/normas , Derivación y Consulta/estadística & datos numéricos , Competencia Clínica , Femenino , Pruebas Auditivas , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Tamizaje Neonatal/organización & administración , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Since overweight and obesity has become epidemic in children and adolescents, the aim of this study was to determine the role of highly-integrated programs in preventing and reducing prevalence of children and adolescent obesity and overweight, even evaluating if this approach has properly been effective in communities with different determinants as in the Pacific Area. METHODS: According to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of literature was conducted and a meta-analysis was performed to compare obese/overweight prevalence between the intervention and the control group. RESULTS: We identified 23 studies describing 14 programs. For 11 out of 14 programs, obese/overweight prevalence changing from baseline were definable and meta-analysis of them showed a significant change of obese/overweight prevalence (-0.03; 95% CI = -0.04 to -0.01; P < 0.0001). Secondary outcomes as dietary (such as vegetable intake, carbonated beverages, fruit juice, drinks, healthful food consumption), physical activity and TV-time-spent was analyzed in many of the studies to define community readiness and behavioral changes. Macro-interventions, based on what was observed in our systematic review have a high potential to reach the entire population. CONCLUSION: Adoption of coordinated cross-sectoral, multi-component and multi-stakeholder initiatives to oppose obesity remains a challenge, but it is also desirable as one of the possible solutions to this major public health issue.
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Promoción de la Salud/organización & administración , Sobrepeso/prevención & control , Obesidad Infantil/prevención & control , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The literature on hospital admissions costs shows that classification of hospitalization systems such as the DRG system used in Italy, do not reflect the real cost of the production factors used, including those of nursing care in relation to the complexity of the hospital effort. OBJECTIVE: This concept paper outlines the study protocol and the methodology used to measure nursing care in economic terms. The objective of the study is developed on the assumption of creating economic indicators from a quantitative analysis of nursing activities provided to specific patients, in order to determine not only who costs but also the reasons for the cost, and demonstrate the variability of nursing not only for DRG, but also each individual patient. METHODS: A retrospective study and a longitudinal prospective study will be performed. In the first phase of the study, using a bottom-up Microcosting methodology the type, volume, time and costs of nursing activities for DRG will be determined and the incidence of nursing costs on reimbursement will be highlighted.In the second phase, the above analysis will be supplemented by the recognition of the complexity of individual cases measured through the Corridor Triage(Tri-CO), in order to figure out the incidence of costs of nursing activities on the reimbursement in relation to the level of care complexity. Main sources of data: hospital discharge card (SDO); Professional Assessment Instrument (PAI); datasets for collecting the time of delivery of nursing activities on PAI. Power calculation: For retrospective study, the survey will be conducted on a sample of 150 patients hospitalized in the first quarter of 2016. For the longitudinal prospective study, 150 patients will be included in the first quarter of 2017 after the structured introduction of Tri-CO as a valuation tool of care complexity. The sample examined is approximately 30% of the total number of admissions per year. RESULTS: The study started in February 2016 and the results are expected for May 2017. Through this study it is expected to verify whether by implementing a unbundling approach, ie the "unpacking" of the production factors (nursing activity costs) used for the explication of hospitalization, and by adopting a methodology based on standard analytical costs, a more detailed knowledge of the overall DRG rate data available today will be obtained, which is currently lacking of explicit notation of all the amounts that make up it.
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Grupos Diagnósticos Relacionados , Economía de la Enfermería , Hospitalización/economía , Servicio de Enfermería en Hospital/economía , Costos de Hospital , Humanos , Italia , Estudios Longitudinales , Servicio de Enfermería en Hospital/organización & administración , Estudios Prospectivos , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
The management of healthcare facilities has become increasingly complex in recent years, leading to a greater demand for public health physicians in Italy. Public Health physicians are responsible for evaluating community needs, with particular attention to health determinants and, at the same time, to final user feedback. During their training, they must acquire the competencies to manage a wide range of problems. The Roman Public Health Academy (ARSP) was developed to motivate young residents in Public Health to acquire the knowhow, skills and abilities required of a public health practitioner. It therefore implemented a special training program offering different educational opportunities for residents. In particular, the program offers a team of three young residents field training opportunities, allowing them to become engaged in solving complex technical and management problems. In this paper we describe the methods through which, following a specific request by the director of a hospital in Rome, the team supported a project involving the reorganization of several hospital wards. The aim of the reorganization was to enhance the performance and efficiency of the wards, according to the Progressive Patients Care program.
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Competencia Clínica , Atención Progresiva al Paciente , Salud Pública , Academias e Institutos , Curriculum , Humanos , Italia , Salud Pública/educación , Ciudad de RomaRESUMEN
Background: Public reporting (PR) of healthcare (HC) provider's quality was proposed as a public health instrument for providing transparency and accountability in HC. Our aim was to assess the impact of PR on five main domains: quality improvement; patient choice, service utilization and market share; provider's perspective; patient experience; and unintended consequences. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, ISI WOS, and EconLit databases were searched to identify studies investigating relationships between PR and five main domains, published up to April 1, 2016. Results: Sixty-two papers published between 1988 and 2015 were included. Nineteen studies investigated quality improvement, 19 studies explored the unintended consequences of PR, 10 explored the effects on market share, 10 on patients' choice, 7 evaluated the provider's perspective, 4 economic outcome, 4 service utilization, 2 purchasers' use of PR and 2 studies explored patient experiences. The effect of PR was diverse throughout the studies-mostly positive on: patient experience (100%), quality improvement (63%), patient choice, service utilization and market share (46%); mixed on provider's perspective and economic outcome (27%) and mainly negative on unintended consequences (68%). Conclusions: Our research covering different outcomes and settings reported that PR is associated with changes in HC provider's behavior and can influence market share. Unintended consequences are a concern of PR and should be taken into account when allocating HC resources. The experiences collected in this paper could give a snapshot about the impact of PR on a HC user's perception of the providers' quality of care, helping them to make empowered choices.
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Acceso a la Información , Atención a la Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Disparidades en Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Satisfacción del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Mejoramiento de la Calidad , Calidad de la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Comportamiento del Consumidor/estadística & datos numéricos , HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill 40 million people each year. The management of chronic respiratory NCDs such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is particularly critical in Italy, where they are widespread and represent a heavy burden on healthcare resources. It is thus important to redefine the role and responsibility of respiratory specialists and their scientific societies, together with that of the whole healthcare system, in order to create a sustainable management of COPD, which could become a model for other chronic respiratory conditions. METHODS: These issues were divided into four main topics (Training, Organization, Responsibilities, and Sustainability) and discussed at a Consensus Conference promoted by the Research Center of the Italian Respiratory Society held in Rome, Italy, 3-4 November 2016. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Regarding training, important inadequacies emerged regarding specialist training - both the duration of practical training courses and teaching about chronic diseases like COPD. A better integration between university and teaching hospitals would improve the quality of specialization. A better organizational integration between hospital and specialists/general practitioners (GPs) in the local community is essential to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways for chronic respiratory patients. Improving the care pathways is the joint responsibility of respiratory specialists, GPs, patients and their caregivers, and the healthcare system. The sustainability of the entire system depends on a better organization of the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways, in which also other stakeholders such as pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies can play an important role.
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BACKGROUND: High-grade dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) can present shunts with very different angio-architectural characteristics. Specific hemodynamic factors may affect clinical history and determine very different clinical courses. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between some venous angio-architectural features in high-grade dAVFs and clinical presentation. Specific indicators of moderate or severe venous hypertension were analyzed, such as altered configurations of the dural sinuses (by a single or a dual thrombosis), or overload of cortical vessels (restrictions of outflow, pseudophlebitic cortical vessels, and venous aneurysms). METHODS: The institutional series was retrospectively reviewed (49 cases), and the pattern of venous drainage was analyzed in relationship with clinical presentation (benign/aggressive/hemorrhage). RESULTS: Thirty-five of 49 cases displayed cortical reflux (high-grade dAVFs). This subgroup displayed a benign presentation in 31.42% of cases, an aggressive in 31.42%, and hemorrhage in 37.14%. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that within high-grade dAVFs, 2 distinct subpopulations exist according to severity of clinical presentation. Some indicators we examined showed correlation with aggressive nonhemorrhagic manifestations (outflow restriction and pseudophlebitic cortical vessels), while other showed a correlation with hemorrhage (dual thrombosis and venous aneurysms). Current classifications appear insufficient to identify a wide range of conditions that ultimately determine the organization of the cortical venous drainage. Intermediate degrees of venous congestion correlate better with the clinical risk than the simple definition of cortical reflux. The angiographic aspects of venous drainage presented in this study may prove useful to assess dAVF hemodynamic characteristics and identify conditions at higher clinical risk.
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Malformaciones Vasculares del Sistema Nervioso Central , Angiografía , Malformaciones Vasculares del Sistema Nervioso Central/diagnóstico por imagen , Malformaciones Vasculares del Sistema Nervioso Central/epidemiología , Malformaciones Vasculares del Sistema Nervioso Central/patología , Malformaciones Vasculares del Sistema Nervioso Central/fisiopatología , Hemorragia , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , RiesgoRESUMEN
Effective governance for health is a prerequisite for implementing a transformation in healthcare. Any change, in order to be fully implemented, requires a strong and transparent leadership. The recent drop in vaccine cover has led our National Health Service to implement a number of changes in health prevention and immunization strategies that make vaccination an optimal paradigm of how healthcare leadership should not remain the focus of few scientists and public health specialists, but it should be more and more widespread at all levels. In fact, as in other areas of health, the implementation of a national evidence-based planning through efficient organization and management is not sufficient to ensure good results, but it is necessary that the whole system - institutions, policy makers, healthcare professionals, media and citizens themselves - is actively involved in driving change, promoting ethical, economic and social value of vaccinations.
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Política de Salud , Inmunización , Liderazgo , Cobertura de Vacunación/organización & administración , Personal de Salud , Humanos , Italia , Medios de Comunicación de MasasRESUMEN
This review focuses on existing immunization policies and practices for migrants and refugees and provides an overview of barriers and facilitators for access to and utilization of immunization services. Evidence was obtained by a scoping review of academic and grey literature in English and a further 11 languages and included official documents available from the websites of ministries of health and national health institutes of the WHO European Region Member States. The review highlights that vaccination policies tailored to migrants and refugees are very heterogeneous among WHO European Region Member States. By comparison, common barriers for the implementation and utilization of immunization services can be identified across countries. Outlined policy options are intended to strengthen information about immunization for migrants and refugees, support future evidence-informed policy-making, enable the achievement of national vaccination coverage goals and improve the eligibility of migrants and refugees to access culturally competent immunization services.
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Humanos , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles/organización & administración , Vacunación/métodos , Programas de Inmunización/organización & administración , Refugiados , Migrantes , Europa (Continente)RESUMEN
This review focuses on existing immunization policies and practices for migrants and refugees and provides an overview of barriers and facilitators for access to and utilization of immunization services. Evidence was obtained by a scoping review of academic and grey literature in English and a further 11 languages and included official documents available from the websites of ministries of health and national health institutes of the WHO European Region Member States. The review highlights that vaccination policies tailored to migrants and refugees are very heterogeneous among WHO European Region Member States. By comparison, common barriers for the implementation and utilization of immunization services can be identified across countries. Outlined policy options are intended to strengthen information about immunization for migrants and refugees, support future evidence-informed policy-making, enable the achievement of national vaccination coverage goals and improve the eligibility of migrants and refugees to access culturally competent immunization services.
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Programas de Inmunización , Inmunización , Vacunación , Refugiados , Migrantes , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles , Europa (Continente)RESUMEN
В данном отчете рассматриваются действующие в настоящее время меры политики и практические подходы к обеспечению услуг иммунизации для мигрантов и беженцев и приводится обзор препятствий и возможностей для получения доступа к таким услугам. Фактические данные по этому вопросу были получены в рамках аналитического обзора научной и внеиздательской литературы на английском и 11 других языках, с особым вниманием к официальным документам, найденным на веб-сайтах министерств здравоохранения и национальных институтов здравоохранения государств-членов в Европейском регионе ВОЗ. Авторы обзора подчеркивают огромные различия в мерах политики в области вакцинации для мигрантов и беженцев между государствами-членами в Европейском регионе ВОЗ. Вместе с тем, эти страны сталкиваются приблизительно с одними и теми же препятствиями для внедрения таких услуг и обеспечения доступа к ним. Представленные в обзоре варианты политики позволят расширить информационную базу в поддержку иммунизации для мигрантов и беженцев и дальнейшей выработки в этой сфере политики на доказательной основе, поспособствуют выполнению странами задач в отношении охвата вакцинацией и сделают возможным получение мигрантами и беженцами доступа к услугам иммунизации с учетом соответствующей культурной специфики.
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Programas de Inmunización , Inmunización , Vacunación , Refugiados , Migrantes , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles , Europa (Continente)RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Clinical governance (CG) is an approach to quality improvement in healthcare aimed at achieving a patient-centered health care system. The main objective of this study was to highlight human centered healthcare latent factors underlying the results of a CG assessment performed in the teaching hospital "A. Gemelli" of Rome, Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CG implementation levels were assessed through OPTIGOV© (OPTimizing healthcare GOVernance), a CG scorecard methodology. In order to identify the variables generating latent factors that can influence the governance of the Hospital, the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was applied. RESULTS: The application of OPTIGOV© showed a good CG implementation level in the Gemelli Hospital. By applying MCA, the variables aggregated so as to define 3 latent factors (F1: assessment for people oriented improvement strategy; F2: assessment for people targeted management; F3: tracking for timely accountable people) explaining as a whole 82.68% of the total variance and respectively 48.09% (F1), 24.95% (F2) and 9.64% (F3). CONCLUSIONS: The heuristic interpretation of the three latent factors could bring back to the concept of humanization in healthcare. This study shows that in the teaching hospital "A. Gemelli" humanization in healthcare is the driver of health care quality improvement.
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Gestión Clínica/organización & administración , Hospitales de Enseñanza/organización & administración , Atención Dirigida al Paciente/organización & administración , Estudios Transversales , Humanos , Italia , Mejoramiento de la CalidadRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To assess both qualitatively and quantitatively the impact of Public Reporting (PR) on clinical outcomes, we carried out a systematic review of published studies on this topic. METHODS: Pubmed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases were searched to identify studies published from 1991 to 2014 that investigated the relationship between PR and clinical outcomes. Studies were considered eligible if they investigated the relationship between PR and clinical outcomes and comprehensively described the PR mechanism and the study design adopted. Among the clinical outcomes identified, meta-analysis was performed for overall mortality rate which quantitative data were exhaustively reported in a sufficient number of studies. Two reviewers conducted all data extraction independently and disagreements were resolved through discussion. The same reviewers evaluated also the quality of the studies using a GRADE approach. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were included. Mainly, the effect of PR on clinical outcomes was positive. Meta-analysis regarding overall mortality included, in a context of high heterogeneity, 10 studies with a total of 1,840,401 experimental events and 3,670,446 control events and resulted in a RR of 0.85 (95 % CI, 0.79-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of PR programs at different levels of the healthcare sector is a challenging but rewarding public health strategy. Existing research covering different clinical outcomes supports the idea that PR could, in fact, stimulate providers to improve healthcare quality.