Assessing community knowledge, attitude and practices to strengthen communication strategy for Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Mandla.

BACKGROUND: Changes in social, belief, and behavioural practices are essential for the success of any public health delivery programme. In the planning stages of the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP), priority was given to communication with a goal to develop capacity of health workers and to improve the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of the people of Mandla. This paper describes the level of community knowledge on malaria, including its prevention, diagnosis, treatment-seeking behaviour, and the level of satisfaction with the services provided by the project. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was undertaken in 1233 villages of Mandla to study the KAP and self-assessed improvement in knowledge and satisfaction level of the community. The goal of the study was to understand whether there is need for strengthening communication strategy of MEDP for better impact. The survey was conducted amongst the head/eligible members of the 733 households located in the nine blocks of the district using clustered random sampling. RESULTS: Though four-fifths of the respondents were able to correlate the transmission of malaria with mosquitoes, misconceptions existed among them. The types of malaria were not known to everyone. Only 39% were aware of the Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) and 41% understood the value of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN). Around 71% of subjects surveyed were aware of the proper diagnostic tests for malaria. A total of 87% of the respondents knew about the MEDP staff working in their respective villages. CONCLUSION: The study reported gaps in knowledge on malaria at community level. The self-assessment of the community revealed that the communication strategy established by MEDP in Mandla district has been useful to them as they are becoming better informed about the prevention and treatment aspects of disease. The lessons learned as revealed in the KAP survey will improve malaria elimination outcomes in a timely manner.

Assessing selection procedures and roles of Community Health Volunteers and Community Health Management Committees in Ghana's Community-based Health Planning and Services program.

BACKGROUND: Community participation in health care delivery will ensure service availability and accessibility and guarantee community ownership of the program. Community-based strategies such as the involvement of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and Community Health Management Committees (CHMCs) are likely to advance primary healthcare in general, but the criteria for selecting CHVs, CHMCs and efforts to sustain these roles are not clear 20 years after implementing the Community-based Health Planning Services program. We examined the process of selecting these cadres of community health workers and their current role within Ghana's flagship program for primary care-the Community-based Health Planning and Services program. METHODS: This was an exploratory study design using qualitative methods to appraise the health system and stakeholder participation in Community-based Health Planning and Services program implementation in the Upper East region of Ghana. We conducted 51 in-depth interviews and 33 focus group discussions with health professionals and community members. RESULTS: Community Health Volunteers and Community Health Management Committees are the representatives of the community in the routine implementation of the Community-based Health Planning and Services program. They are selected, appointed, or nominated by their communities. Some inherit the position through apprenticeship and others are recruited through advertisement. The selection is mostly initiated by the health providers and carried out by community members. Community Health Volunteers lead community mobilization efforts, support health providers in health promotion activities, manage minor illnesses, and encourage pregnant women to use maternal health services. Community Health Volunteers also translate health messages delivered by health providers to the people in their local languages. Community Health Management Committees mobilize resources for the development of Community-based Health Planning and Services program compounds. They play a mediatory role between health providers in the health compounds and the community members. Volunteers are sometimes given non-financial incentives but there are suggestions to include financial incentives. CONCLUSION: Community Health Volunteers and Community Health Management Committees play a critical role in primary health care. The criteria for selecting Community Health Volunteers and Community Health Management Committees vary but need to be standardized to ensure that only self-motivated individuals are selected. Thus, CHVs and CHMCs should contest for their positions and be endorsed by their community members and assigned roles by health professionals in the CHPS zones. Efforts to sustain them within the health system should include the provision of financial incentives.

Wheelchair Seated Posture and Health Outcomes of Older Veterans in Community Living Centers.

PURPOSE: Nursing home residents sit in wheelchairs (WCs) for extended periods, often with slumped posture. They often experience pneumonia, pressure ulcers, and pain. This study described WC seated posture with its selected predictors and outcomes in the nursing home environment, throughout the daytime hours of 1 day. DESIGN AND METHODS: This observational study (n = 45) in two Veterans Administration Community Living Centers introduced a new measure of WC fit and described WC seated posture of older Veterans, with selected predictors and outcomes. FINDINGS: Wheelchair seated posture was predicted by cognitive status, WC fit, WC skills, and duration of sitting, but not by level of sitting ability. Poor posture measured by the Seated Posture Scale was associated with pain. Highest interface pressures measurable were seen in peak pressure index (PPI = 200 mm Hg), indicating risk of pressure injury. Veterans often denied discomfort, possibly lowering overall pain scores, while reporting severe pain in specific body parts. CONCLUSIONS: Wheelchair seated posture was predicted by cognitive status, WC fit, WC skills, and duration of sitting. Poor posture was associated with pain, and poor posture was an outcome of poor WC fit. Poor WC fit in this study supported earlier findings in non-Veterans Administration nursing homes.

Factors Associated with Up-to-Date Colonoscopy Use Among Puerto Ricans in New York City, 2003-2016.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic Americans. Puerto Ricans are the second largest Hispanic subgroup in the USA and the largest in New York City, but little is known about predictors of colorectal cancer screening uptake in this population. AIMS: We used the New York City Community Health Survey, a population-based telephone survey, to investigate predictors of up-to-date colonoscopy use over time among Puerto Ricans aged ≥ 50 years in NYC. METHODS: We assessed the association between sociodemographic and medical factors and up-to-date colonoscopy use (defined as colonoscopy within the last 10 years) using univariable and multivariable logistic regression over six time periods: 2003-2005, 2006-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2015-2016. RESULTS: On multivariable analysis, age ≥ 65 years (OR 1.64-1.93 over three periods) and influenza vaccination (OR 1.86-2.17 over five periods) were the two factors most consistently associated with up-to-date colonoscopy use. Individuals without a primary care provider (OR 0.38-0.50 over three periods) and who did not exercise (OR 0.49-0.52 over two periods) were significantly less likely to have an up-to-date colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Older age, influenza vaccination, having a primary care provider, and exercise are independent predictors of up-to-date colonoscopy use among Puerto Ricans in NYC. Interventions to improve screening colonoscopy uptake among Puerto Ricans should be targeted to those aged 50-64 years and who do not have a primary care provider.

Community utilisation and satisfaction with the community-based health planning and services initiative in Ghana: a comparative study in two system learning districts of the CHPS+ project.

BACKGROUND: To strengthen the implementation of the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) programme which is Ghana's key primary health care delivery strategy, the CHPS+ Project was initiated in 2017. We examined community utilisation and satisfaction with CHPS services in two System Learning Districts (SLDs) of the project. METHODS: This community-based descriptive study was conducted in the Nkwanta South Municipality and Central Tongu District of Ghana. Data were collected from 1008 adults and analysed using frequency, percentage, chi-square, and logistic regression models. RESULTS: While the level of utilisation of CHPS services was 65.2%, satisfaction was 46.1%. Utilisation was 76.7% in Nkwanta South and 53.8% in Central Tongu. Satisfaction was also 55.2% in Nkwanta South and 37.1% in Central Tongu. Community members in Nkwanta South were more likely to utilise (AOR = 3.17, 95%CI = 3.98-9.76) and be satisfied (AOR = 2.77, 95%CI = 1.56-4.90) with CHPS services than those in Central Tongu. Females were more likely to utilise (AOR = 1.75, 95%CI = 1.27-2.39) but less likely to be satisfied [AOR = 0.47, 95%CI = 0.25-0.90] with CHPS services than males. Even though subscription to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was just 46.3%, NHIS subscribers were more likely to utilise (AOR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.22-2.03) and be satisfied (AOR = 1.45, 95%CI = 0.53-1.68) with CHPS services than non-subscribers. CONCLUSION: Ghana may not be able to achieve the goal of universal health coverage (UHC) by the year 2030 if current levels of utilisation and satisfaction with CHPS services persist. To accelerate progress towards the achievement of UHC with CHPS as the vehicle through which primary health care is delivered, there should be increased public education by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on the CHPS concept to increase utilisation. Service quality should also be improved by the GHS and other stakeholders in Ghana's health industry to increase satisfaction with CHPS services. The GHS and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) should also institute innovative strategies to increase subscription to the NHIS since it has implications for CHPS service utilisation and satisfaction.

Surveillance system assessment in Guinea: Training needed to strengthen data quality and analysis, 2016.

The 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease outbreak revealed the fragility of the Guinean public health infrastructure. As a result, the Guinean Ministry of Health is collaborating with international partners to improve compliance with the International Health Regulations and work toward the Global Health Security Agenda goals, including enhanced case- and community-based disease surveillance. We assessed the case-based disease surveillance system during October 1, 2015-March 31, 2016, in the Boffa prefecture of Guinea. We conducted onsite interviews with public health staff at the peripheral (health center), middle (prefectural), and central (Ministry of Health) levels of the public health system to document leadership structure; methods for maintaining case registers and submitting weekly case reports; disease surveillance feedback; data analysis; and baseline surveillance information on four epidemic-prone diseases (cholera, meningococcal meningitis, measles, and yellow fever). The surveillance system was simple and paper-based at health centers and computer spreadsheet-based at the prefectural and central levels. Surveillance feedback to stakeholders at all levels was infrequent. Data analysis activities were minimal at the peripheral levels and progressively more robust at the prefectural and central levels. Reviewing the surveillance reports from Boffa during the study period, we observed zero reported cases of the four epidemic-prone diseases in the weekly reporting from the peripheral to the central level. Similarly, the national District Health Information System 2 had no reported cases of the four diseases in Boffa but did indicate reported cases among all four neighboring prefectures. Based on the assessment findings, which suggest low sensitivity of the case-based disease surveillance system in Boffa, we recommend additional training and support to improve surveillance data quality and enhance Guinean public health workforce capacity to use these data.

Quality of Life and the Health System: A 22-Country Comparison of the Situation of People With Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare how performance of the health system are linked to the self-reported quality of life (QOL) of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in 22 countries participating in the International Spinal Cord (InSCI) community survey. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Twenty-two countries representing all 6 World Health Organization regions, community setting. PARTICIPANTS: Persons (N=12,591) with traumatic or nontraumatic SCI aged ≥18 years. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOMES: Self-reported satisfaction on several indicators that include: health, ability to perform daily activities, oneself, personal relationships, and living conditions. A total score of QOL was calculated using these 5 definitions. RESULTS: The most important indicators for self-reported QOL of persons with SCI were social attitudes and access to health care services, followed by nursing care, access to public spaces, the provision of vocational rehabilitation, transportation, medication, and assistive devices. In general, persons with SCI living in higher-income countries reported a higher QOL than people in lower-income countries, with some exceptions. The top performing country was The Netherlands with an estimated median QOL of 66% (on a 0%-100% scale). CONCLUSIONS: The living situation of people with SCI is highly influenced by the performance of the health system. Measuring and comparing health systems give accountability to a country's citizens, but it also helps to determine areas for improvement.

Healthy Days at home: A novel population-based outcome measure.

BACKGROUND: Healthy Days at Home (HDAH) is a novel population-based outcome measure developed in conjunction with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. METHODS: We identified beneficiary age, sex, race, and Medicaid eligibility, death date, chronic conditions and healthcare utilization among a 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries in 2016. For each beneficiary we calculated HDAH for the year by subtracting the following measure components from 365 days: mortality days, the total number of days spent in inpatient, observation, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), inpatient psychiatry, inpatient rehabilitation and long-term hospital settings as well as the number of outpatient emergency department and home health visits. We examined how HDAH and its components varied by beneficiary demographic characteristics and chronic condition burden as well as by healthcare market (Hospital Referral Region). We specified a patient-level linear regression adjustment model with HDAH as the outcome and incorporated market fixed effects as well as beneficiary age, sex, and Chronic Conditions Warehouse categories as covariates. We examined the impact of including home health visits in the measure, as well as the association between market demographics and health system characteristics and mean market HDAH. We examined how HDAH changed from 2013 to 2016. RESULTS: The 6,637,568 beneficiaries age 65 and older in our sample had a mean of 347.2 HDAH, those 80 and older had a mean of 325.3 while those with three or more chronic conditions had a mean of 333.7. The components that led to the largest reduction in HDAH were mortality (7.4 days), home health (2.7 visits), SNF utilization (2.4 days) and inpatient care (1.5 days). The worst performing market had 5.8 fewer adjusted HDAH on average compared to the national mean, while beneficiaries in the best-performing market had 5.0 more HDAH on average compared to the national mean, among all beneficiaries age 65 and older. CONCLUSIONS: HDAH is a population-based quality measure with substantial market-level variation. IMPLICATIONS: HDAH recognizes the multidimensional nature of healthcare and may afford providers greater flexibility to tailor quality-improvement initiatives to the unique needs of their patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

[Examination of Regional Differences in Performance of Health Systems by Prefecture Using Cluster Analysis].

OBJECTIVE: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) pointed out the deterioration of the performance of health systems (performance) in Japan. To correct this, we evaluated the performances in different prefectures. METHODS: By the OECD method, we set 27 indicators concerning "health status (HS)", " risk factors (RFs)", " access to care (AC)", " quality of care (QC)", and " health care resources (HRs)". Next, the relative value (RV, ±4 standard deviation) from the average value of each indicator in each prefecture was obtained. On the basis of this RV, the prefectures were divided into A, B, and C by cluster analysis. Then, the 27 indicators of the three groups were subjected to multiple comparison tests and the performances were evaluated. RESULTS: A included Hokkaido, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa, B included Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Saitama, Tokyo, Osaka, and Wakayama, C included Miyagi, Yamagata, Gunma, Chiba, Kanagawa, Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Hyogo, Nara, and Tottori. The multiple comparison test results showed that HS and RFs were not significantly different between A and C. In A, AC and QC were poor, but HRs were excessive, and the local allocation tax was high. RFs, AC, QC, HRs, and the local allocation taxes were not significantly different between B and C, but HS was poor in B. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of health systems was deteriorating in the 19 prefectures included in A, and correction is necessary in these prefectures.

Quality of life of older women living with HIV: comparative assessment of physical and mental health-related markers using a large Canadian Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study.

Objective: This study assessed and compared physical and mental health components of quality of life (QoL) for older and younger women living with HIV (WLWH). Method: Using survey data from the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study, demographic, well-being, and physical and mental health-related QoL (HR-QoL) variables were compared between older (≥50 years) and younger (<50 years) WLWH. As the only significantly different QoL component, bivariate analyses and linear regression were used to assess factors associated with physical HR-QoL of older women. Results: The sample frame comprised 1,422 women (28.0% older women). Younger WLWH's mean age was 37.8 years (SD = 7.4) compared to older WLWH (55.8 years, SD = 5.3). Compared to younger WLWH, older WLWH had poorer physical HR-QoL (40.0 vs. 50.7; p < 0.001) but similar mental HR-QoL (42.7 vs. 42.1; p > 0.001). Older WLWH had lower social support (p < 0.001) with no significant differences in depressive symptoms or resilience. Resilience was associated with improved physical HR-QOL. Food insecurity, poorer mental HR-QoL and depressive symptoms were associated with poorer physical health. Discussion: Compared to younger WLWH, older WLWH had poorer physical HR-QoL, which was associated with resilience, food insecurity and mental health factors, highlighting the complex interactions of health-related social-ecological factors impacting aging WLWH.

Opportunities to improve vaccination coverage in a country with a fledgling health system: Findings from an assessment of missed opportunities for vaccination among health center attendees-Timor Leste, 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Since its independence in 2002, Timor Leste has made significant strides in improving childhood vaccination coverage. However, coverage is still below national targets, and children continue to have missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV), when eligible children have contact with the health system but are not vaccinated. Timor Leste implemented the updated World Health Organization methodology for assessing MOV in 2016. METHODS: The MOV data collection included quantitative (caregiver exit interviews and health worker knowledge, attitudes, practices surveys (KAP)) and qualitative arms (focus group discussions (FGDs) with caregivers and health workers and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health administrators). During a four-day period, health workers and caregivers with children <24 months of age attending the selected eight facilities in Dili Municipality were invited to participate. The researchers calculated the proportion of MOV and timeliness of vaccine doses among children with documented vaccination histories (i.e., from a home-based record or facility register) and thematically analyzed the qualitative data. RESULTS: Researchers conducted 365 caregiver exit interviews, 169 health worker KAP surveys, 4 FGDs with caregivers, 2 FGDs with health workers, and 2 IDIs with health administrators. Among eligible children with documented vaccination histories (n = 199), 41% missed an opportunity for vaccination. One-third of health workers (33%) believed their knowledge of immunization practices to be insufficient. Qualitative results showed vaccines were not available at all selected health facilities, and some facilities reported problems with their cold chain equipment. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that many children in Timor Leste miss opportunities for vaccination during health service encounters. Potential interventions to reduce MOV include training of health workers, improving availability of vaccines at more health facilities, and replacing unusable cold chain equipment. Timor Leste should continue to scale up successful MOV interventions beyond Dili Municipality to improve vaccination coverage nationally and strengthen the health system overall.

Impact of an electronic decision support rule on ESR/CRP co-ordering rates in a community health system and projected impact in the tertiary care setting and a commercially insured population.

INTRODUCTION: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are common laboratory assays used as markers of inflammation. ESR suffers from higher false positive and false negative rates than CRP. To that end, the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM's) Choosing Wisely campaign has recommended against ESR testing for those with undiagnosed conditions in favor of CRP testing. This study describes the impact of a computerized provider order entry (CPOE) decision support rule against ESR/CRP co-ordering within a community health system that predates the ABIM's Choosing Wisely national guidance. To demonstrate the potential impact of such a CPOE rule within other healthcare settings, ESR/CRP ordering data from a multi-site tertiary care practice and from the commercially insured population in the OptumLabs® Data Warehouse (OLDW) were analyzed and the relative reduction in ESR/CRP co-ordering achieved within the community health system was projected onto these populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ESR and/or CRP orders from a community health system were assessed from 2012 to 2016. Co-ordering and test concordance rates between ESR and CRP were compared before and after CPOE decision support rule launch. Similarly, ESR/CRP co-ordering across three tertiary care sites from 2015 to 2016 and the OLDW from 2009 to 2013 were assessed and the co-ordering rate reduction achieved in the community health system was mathematically projected onto these populations. Estimated payer savings from the rule's effect were calculated within each population using Medicare reimbursement rates. RESULTS: The CPOE decision support rule realized an unadjusted 42% relative rate reduction in ESR/CRP co-ordering within the community health system yielding an annual payer savings of $15,000 with a modest increase in ESR/CRP concordance rates. Projecting a 40% relative reduction in ESR/CRP co-ordering rates from a similarly effective CPOE rule, annual payer cost reductions exceeding $100,000 within a multi-site tertiary care setting and $1,000,000 within the OLDW would be expected. CONCLUSION: ESR/CRP co-ordering represents an opportunity to eliminate testing waste and reduce payer costs. A CPOE decision support rule stably reduces ESR/CRP co-ordering rates. Similar results may occur as one component of new commercially available decision support platforms.

Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions Documented in Electronic Health Records within a Large Health System.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) are immunologic responses to drugs. Identification of HSRs documented in the electronic health record (EHR) is important for patient safety. OBJECTIVE: To examine HSR epidemiology using longitudinal EHR data from a large United States health care system. METHODS: Patient demographic information and drug allergy data were obtained from the Partners Enterprise-wide Allergy Repository for 2 large tertiary care hospitals from 2000 to 2013. Drug-induced HSRs were categorized into immediate and delayed HSRs based on typical phenotypes. Causative drugs and drug groups were assessed. The prevalence of HSRs was determined, and sex and racial differences were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 2.7 million patients, 377,474 (13.8%) reported drug-induced HSRs, of whom 70.3% were female and 77.5% were white. A total of 580,456 HSRs were reported, of which 53.1% were immediate reaction phenotypes. Common immediate HSRs included hives (48.8%), itching (15.0%), and angioedema (14.1%). Delayed HSR phenotypes (46.9%) were largely rash (99.0%). Penicillins were associated with the most immediate (33.0%) and delayed (39.0%) HSRs. Although most HSRs were more prevalent in females and white patients, notable differences were identified for certain rare HSRs including acute interstitial nephritis, which appeared more commonly in males (0.02% vs 0.01%, P < .001). Asian patients had more fixed drug eruptions (0.007% vs 0.002%, P = .021) and severe cutaneous adverse reactions (0.05% vs 0.04%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Drug HSRs were reported in 13.8% of patients. Almost one-half of reported immediate HSR phenotypes were hives, and almost all reported delayed HSR phenotypes were rash. HSRs largely affected female and white patients, but differences were identified for specific rare HSRs.

Comparisons of immunization records between a community pharmacy, a regional registry, and a health system.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the completeness of immunization records for 6 vaccines between a community pharmacy database, a regional immunization information system (IIS), and a health system's electronic health record (EHR). METHODS: In a community pharmacy immunization program, 2 pharmacists and a community pharmacy resident performed a needs assessment for 6 vaccines (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine for adults or diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine for children and adolescents, zoster vaccine live, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine series, and human papillomavirus vaccine) for more than 2400 patients from August 2016 to March 2017. This was a retrospective study to review immunization records for 243 patients. Inclusion criteria included patients from the community pharmacy immunization program who also had at least 1 medication prescribed by an academic health system provider. Immunization records for 6 vaccines were collected from the community pharmacy database, the regional IIS, and the EHR. RESULTS: A total of 186 of 243 patients (77%) had additional immunization records in the regional IIS or EHR that were not found in the community pharmacy database. Among those 186 patients, 108 (58%) had additional immunization records for 2 or more unique vaccines. In total, 378 additional immunization records were identified for the 6 vaccines. For all 6 vaccines, the regional IIS and EHR possessed more complete immunization records than the community pharmacy database (P < 0.05 for HPV and P < 0.001 for the remaining 5 vaccines). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that immunization records were more complete in a regional IIS and health system EHR compared with a community pharmacy database. If all 3 sources were used by the pharmacist during the needs assessment, the community pharmacy team would have made fewer vaccine recommendations, which would have reduced the potential for duplicate or inappropriate vaccines.

Social autopsy for identifying causes of adult mortality.

Verbal autopsy methods have been developed to determine medical causes of deathforprioritizing disease control programs. Additional information on social causesmay facilitate designing of more appropriate prevention strategies. Use of social autopsy in investigations of causes of adult deaths has been limited. Therefore, acommunity-based study was conducted in NandpurKalour Block of Fatehgarh Sahib District in Punjab (India)for finding social causes of adult deaths. An integrated verbal and social autopsy toolwas developed and verbal autopsies of 600 adult deaths, occurring over a reference period of one year, were conducted in 2014. Quantitative analysis described the socio-demographic characteristics of the deceased, number and type of consultations from health care providers, and type of care received during illness. Qualitative data was analyzed to find out social causes of death by thematic analysis. The median duration of illness from symptom onset till death was 9 days (IQR = 1-45 days). At the onset of illness, 72 (12%) deceased utilized home remedies and 424 (70.7%)received care from a clinic/hospital, and 104 (17.3%) died withoutreceiving any care. The number of medical consultations varied from one to six (median = 2). The utilization of government health facilities and qualified allopathic doctor increased with each consultation (p value<0.05). The top five social causes of adult deaths in a rural area of Punjab in India. (1) Non availability of medical practitioner in the vicinity, (2) communication gaps between doctor and patient on regular intake of medication, (3) delayed referral by service provider, (4) poor communication with family on illness, and (5) perception of illness to be 'mild' by the family or care taker. To conclude, social autopsy tool should be integrated with verbal autopsy tool for identification of individual, community, and health system level factors associated with adult mortality.

Disparities in Colon Cancer Survival by Insurance Type: A Population-Based Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer is a common cancer with a relatively high survival for nonmetastatic disease if appropriate treatment is given. A lower survival rate for patients with no or inadequate insurance has previously been documented, but the differences have not been explored in detail on a population level. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine survival for patients with colon cancer by insurance type. DESIGN: Complete analysis was used to examine 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates. SETTINGS: This was a population-level analysis. PATIENTS: Patients were drawn from the in-patients diagnosed with colon cancer at ages 15 to 64 years between 2007 and 2012 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database by insurance type (Medicaid, uninsured, or other insurance) MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:: This study measured overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 57,790 cases were included, with insurance information available for 55,432. Of those, 7611 (13.7%), 4131 (7.5%), and 43,690 (78.8%) had Medicaid, no insurance, or other insurance. Patients with Medicaid or without insurance were more likely to have metastatic disease compared with those with other insurance. Survival was higher for patients with insurance other than Medicaid, with 3-year survival estimates of 57.0%, 61.2%, and 75.6% for Medicaid, uninsured, and other insurance. Significant disparities continued to be observed after adjustment for stage, especially for later-stage disease. When only patients with stage I to II disease who had definitive surgery and resection of ≥12 lymph nodes were included in the analysis, the discrepancy was decreased, especially for uninsured patients. LIMITATIONS: Information on chemotherapy use and biological markers of disease severity are not available in the database. CONCLUSIONS: Colon cancer survival is lower for patients with no insurance or with Medicaid than for those with private insurance. Differences in rates of definitive surgery and adequate lymph node dissection explain some of this disparity. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A585.

Patient perspectives following pharmacogenomics results disclosure in an integrated health system.

AIM: To assess patient perceptions and utilization of pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing in an integrated community health system. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients completed an online survey assessing their experiences with PGx testing offered through two methods: a designated PGx clinic or direct access in-home testing. RESULTS: The majority of participants perceived PGx testing as helpful in their healthcare and reported understanding their results. Some had concerns about privacy and discrimination; most lacked familiarity with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. There were no significant differences in views between participants tested through either model. CONCLUSION: Participants reported value in both methods of PGx testing. Patient experiences, understanding and result utilization will play an important role in informing future development and implementation of PGx programs.