Systematic review of experiences and perceptions of key actors and organisations at multiple levels within health systems internationally in responding to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has presented challenges to healthcare systems and healthcare professionals internationally. After one year of the pandemic, the initial evidence on health system responses begins to consolidate, and there is a need to identify and synthesise experiences of responding to COVID-19 among healthcare professionals and other health system stakeholders. This systematic review of primary qualitative studies depicts the experiences and perceptions of organisations and actors at multiple levels of health systems internationally in responding to COVID-19. METHODS: Six main databases of biomedical information, public health and health administration research were searched over the period October 1, 2019, to October 21, 2020. Information extracted from included studies was analysed thematically. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were eligible for data extraction. Nine of those studies, of lower methodological quality, were removed from the thematic analysis of study results. Considering the professional level experiences, predominant themes of the studies consisted of the new roles and responsibilities of healthcare workers, burnout and distress, recognition of ´unseen´ healthcare workers, and positive changes and emergent solutions amid the crisis. Organisational level findings of the studies included provision of psychological support, COVID-19 as "catalyst" for change, and exercise of more "open" leadership by managers and health authorities. Continuous training, regulation of working conditions, providing supportive resources, coordinating a diversity of actors, and reviewing and updating regulations were roles identified  at the local health system level. CONCLUSIONS: The experiences of frontline healthcare workers have been the focus of attention of the majority of primary qualitative studies as of October 2020. However, organisational and wider system level studies indicate that some responses to COVID-19 have been characterised by increased emphasis on coordination activities by local health system actors, making service adaptations at pace, and reliance on expanded roles of front-line workers. The need for theory-informed qualitative studies was identified at the organisational level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42020202875.

Eficacia de la prueba de detección del virus del papiloma humano (VPH) para el rastreo de cáncer de cuello uterino / Efficacy of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Screening Test for Cervical Cancer Screening

El Cáncer de Cuello Uterino (CCU) representa la segunda causa de muerte por cáncer en el mundo en mujeres entre los 35 y los 64 años de edad. En Argentina, cada año se diagnostican 4000 casos por año y mueren 1800 mujeres por esta enfermedad. La Organización Mundial de la Salud y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud proponen que se realice una prueba de tamizaje, que de resultar positiva, decida el inicio de un tratamiento inmediatamente después. El Ministerio de Salud dela Nación en el año 2011 incorporó la prueba del virus del papiloma humano (VPH) como método de tamizaje de CCU en la provincia de Jujuy y posteriormente en otras provincias, estableciendo que se realizará de manera conjunta con la citología. Decidimos realizar una búsqueda para conocer las características operativas y la efectividad del test. Los estudios resumidos estiman que la prueba de VPH tiene mayor sensibilidad y similar especificidad que el Papanicolau y sería eficaz también para disminuir la mortalidad por CCU, por lo cual la evidencia sugiere que sea utilizado como primer método de rastreo para la detección de CCU. (AU)

Cervical cancer (CC) represents the second cause of cancer deaths in the world among women aged 35 to 64 years old. In Argentina there 4000 cases are diagnosed each year and around 1800 women die each year. The World Health Organization and Pan-American Health Organization propose a single screening test that, if positive, defines the adequate immediate treatment. Argentina's Health Ministry incorporated in 2011 the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test (together with cytology) as a mean of early detection of CC in the province of Jujuy and later on other provinces. We conducted a bibliographic search of the evidence of diagnostic accuracy and effectiveness of HPV test. The results highlight that HPV testing has greater sensitivity and similar specificity compared to cytology and it is also effective inreducing CC mortality, therefore HPV testing should be used as first screening test for CC. (AU)