Hospice care and the value of a statistical life year (VSLY).

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aim to refine the value of a statistical life (VSL) framework to align with hospice care's focus on quality over quantity of life, recognising the necessity for age-sensitive economic assessments. METHODS: We developed an adapted VSL model that incorporates patient and family preferences, which may guide resource distribution and policymaking in end-of-life care. Methods include a multidisciplinary analysis that merges economic and humanistic perspectives to advocate for policies that support adequate funding and compassionate care. RESULTS: Results indicate that our adjusted VSL model promotes a more equitable assessment of hospice care, advocating for enhanced patient dignity and comfort. CONCLUSIONS: This paper presents a novel, ethically and economically balanced approach to evaluating hospice care, emphasising dignity and comfort in terminal care.

From Acute Infection to Prolonged Health Consequences: Understanding Health Disparities and Economic Implications in Long COVID Worldwide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a growing number of patients experiencing persistent symptoms and physiological changes after recovering from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, known as Long COVID. Long COVID is characterized by recurring symptoms and inflammation across multiple organ systems. Diagnosis can be challenging, influenced by factors like demographics, comorbidities, and immune responses. Long COVID impacts various organ systems and can have neuropsychological effects. Health disparities, particularly related to race, contribute to a higher burden of infection and ongoing symptoms in minority populations. Managing Long COVID entails addressing a spectrum of symptoms that encompass physical, cognitive, and psychological aspects. The recovery period for patients with Long COVID can vary significantly, influenced by factors like the severity of the disease, hospitalization, comorbidities, and age. Currently, there are no universally effective treatments, although certain interventions show promise, necessitating further research. Self-management and rehabilitation programs can provide relief, but more research is needed to establish their effectiveness. Preventive measures such as vaccination and the use of antiviral medications and metformin. It is imperative to conduct further research to develop evidence-based guidelines and gain a better understanding of the long-term implications of COVID-19. Long COVID could have substantial economic impact on the labor market, productivity, healthcare expenditures, and overall economic growth. To address the challenges patients with long-term complications face, there is a focus on strategies like promoting telework and flexible work arrangements to accommodate diverse symptoms, particularly chronic fatigue and other Long COVID effects. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the multifaceted complexity of Long COVID and the ongoing need to address its potential long-term health and economic impacts.

Corrigendum: Reproducibility and rigor in rheumatology research.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1073551.].

Reproducibility and rigor in rheumatology research.

The pillars of scientific progress in rheumatology are experimentation and observation, followed by the publication of reliable and credible results. These data must then be independently verified, validated, and replicated. Peer and journal-specific technical and statistical reviews are paramount to improving rigor and reproducibility. In addition, research integrity, ethics, and responsible conduct training can help to reduce research misconduct and improve scientific evidence. As the number of published articles in rheumatology grows, the field has become critical for determining reproducibility. Prospective, longitudinal, randomized controlled clinical trials are the gold standard for evaluating clinical intervention efficacy and safety in this space. However, their applicability to larger, more representative patient populations with rheumatological disorders worldwide could be limited due to time, technical, and cost constraints involved with large-scale clinical trials. Accordingly, analysis of real-world, patient-centered clinical data retrieved from established healthcare inventories, such as electronic health records, medical billing reports, and disease registries, are increasingly used to report patient outcomes. Unfortunately, it is unknown whether this clinical research paradigm in rheumatology could be deployed in medically underserved regions.

Smoking Behavior among Jordanians: Physical, Psychological, Social, and Economic Reasons.

OBJECTIVES: To highlight the physical, psychological, social, and economic reasons related to sex differences in smoking behaviors in Jordan. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among Jordanian adult smokers. RESULTS: Sex was a significant predictor of physical reasons related to smoking; when controlling for other factors (t765 = 5.027; P < 0.001), women were more affected by physical factors than were men. In addition, work status was a significant predictor of physical reasons (t765 = -2.563; P = 0.011), as was the price of cigarettes (t765 = 2.224; P = 0.026). Age was a significant predictor of psychological reasons (t765 = -3.092; P = 0.002): younger individuals were more likely to state psychological factors as their reason for smoking than were older individuals. Conversely, sex was a significant predictor (t765 = 2.798; P = 0.005) of social reasons for smoking, with more men than women reporting social motivations. CONCLUSIONS: Women were more likely to smoke for physical factors that are positively correlated with the price of cigarettes, rendering them less responsive to an increase in the price of cigarettes. Conversely, men were more likely to smoke for social reasons that are negatively correlated with the price of cigarettes; thus, men are more responsive to an increase in the price of cigarettes. Future public policies aiming to combat smoking in Jordan should consider sex differences in smoking behavior because one policy may not necessarily fit all.

Cigarette demand is responsive to higher prices: findings from a survey of University students in Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the price elasticity of cigarette demand for university students aged 18-24 years in Jordan. METHODS: Questions from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey were adapted and administered to students from 10 public universities in Jordan in 2014. A two-part econometric model of cigarette demand was estimated. RESULTS: Nearly one-third of university students in Jordan smoke, purchasing 33.2 packs per month and paying 1.70 Jordanian dinars on average (US$2.40) for a pack of 20 cigarettes. The price elasticity of cigarette demand was estimated to be -1.15. CONCLUSIONS: Higher taxes may be particularly effective in reducing smoking among University students in Jordan.

The economics of tobacco use in Jordan.

INTRODUCTION: We conducted an independent survey of tobacco use in Jordan following the methods and template of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Using data collected on cigarette use and cigarette prices, we estimated the price elasticity of cigarette demand in Jordan. METHODS: We used a 2-part model of cigarette demand. In the first part, we estimate the impact of prices on the decision to smoke while controlling for individual demographic and environmental characteristics. Conditional on smoking, we then estimate the effect of price on the number of cigarettes smoked. RESULTS: The total price elasticity of cigarette demand in Jordan was estimated to be -0.6. Smoking among women was found to be relatively unresponsive to price (elasticity of -0.01), whereas smoking among men was much more responsive to price (elasticity of -0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The price elasticity estimates suggest that significant increases in tobacco taxes are likely to be effective in reducing smoking in Jordan, particularly smoking among men.