Efectos de la COVID-19 en la calidad de la atención de los servicios de salud en Colombia: Revisión de literatura / Effects of COVID-19 on the quality of health care services in Colombia: a literature review / Efeitos da covid-19 na qualidade dos serviços de saúde na colômbia: revisão da literatura

Introducción: La pandemia por COVID-19 ha afectado significativamente la calidad de los servicios de cuidado de la salud. Objetivo: Analizar los efectos en los atributos de la calidad en salud de los servicios de atención de enfermedades diferentes a la COVID-19 en Colombia, durante el periodo 2020-2022. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron 24 artículos de alcance nacional y otros específicos de departamentos como Antioquia, Córdoba, Santander y Cundinamarca. Resultados: La pandemia por COVID-19 impactó la calidad de los servicios en la atención de enfermedades como cáncer, accidentes cerebrovasculares y de eventos como la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo. Conclusión: La calidad de la salud se vio afectada en todas sus dimensiones durante las fases de la pandemia, especialmente en la población con enfermedades crónicas y relacionadas con la salud infantil y materna. Además, se destacaron respuestas como el uso de la telemedicina y de la atención domiciliaria para contribuir a la calidad de la salud en Colombia.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the quality of health care services. Objective: To analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the quality of health care services focused on treating diseases other than COVID-19 in Colombia during the 2020-2022 period. Materials and methods: 24 articles were analyzed, which included some studies focused on national issues and others specific to the departments of Antioquia, Cordoba, Santander, and Cundinamarca. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the quality of health services caring for diseases such as cancer, strokes, and critical circumstances like voluntary termination of pregnancy. Conclusion: All dimensions of health care were affected during the pandemic, especially impacting populations with chronic diseases and diseases related to child and maternal health. It is important to highlight that telemedicine and home care contributed to improving the quality of health in Colombia.

Introdução: A pandemia de COVID-19 afetou significativamente a qualidade dos serviços de saúde. Objetivo: Analisar os efeitos da COVID-19 nos atributos de qualidade em saúde dos serviços de atenção a outras doenças além da COVID-19 na Colômbia, durante o período 2020-2022. Materiais e métodos: foram analisados 24 artigos de âmbito nacional e outros específicos de departamentos como Antioquia, Córdoba, Santander e Cundinamarca. Resultados: A pandemia da COVID-19 impactou a qualidade dos serviços no cuidado de doenças como câncer, acidente vascular cerebral e eventos como a interrupção voluntária da gravidez. Conclusão: A qualidade da saúde foi afetada em todas as suas dimensões durante as fases da pandemia, especialmente na população com doenças crônicas e doenças relacionadas à saúde infantil e materna. Além disso, foram destacadas respostas como o uso da telemedicina e do atendimento domiciliar para contribuir para a qualidade da saúde na Colômbia.

Frontline health workers' experiences of providing care for people living with non-communicable diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted frontline health workers. However, a neglected dimension of this discourse was the extent to which the pandemic impacted frontline healthcare workers providing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) care. This study aims to understand the experiences of healthcare workers with no prior exposure to pandemics who provided care to people living with NCDs (PLWNCDs). METHODS: A qualitative study design was employed, using a face-to-face in-depth interviews. Interviews were conducted in primary healthcare facilities in three administrative regions of Ghana, representing the Northern, Southern and Middle Belts. Only frontline health workers with roles in providing care for PLWNCDs were included. Purposive snowballing and convenience sampling methods were employed to select frontline health workers. An open-ended interview guide was used to facilitate data collection, and thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 47 frontline health workers were interviewed. Overall, these workers experienced diverse patient-driven and organisational challenges. Patient-level challenges included a decline in healthcare utilisation, non-adherence to treatment, a lack of continuity, fear and stigma. At the organisational levels, there was a lack of medical logistics, increased infection of workers and absenteeism, increased workload and burnout, limited motivational packages and inadequate guidelines and protocols. Workers coped and responded to the pandemic by postponing reviews and consultations, reducing inpatient and outpatient visits, changing their prescription practices, using teleconsultation and moving to long-shift systems. CONCLUSION: This study has brought to the fore the experiences that adversely affected frontline health workers and, in many ways, affected the care provided to PLWNCDs. Policymakers and health managers should take these experiences into account in plans to mitigate the impact of future pandemics.

Australian trial of behavioural activation for people with schizophrenia experiencing negative symptoms: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Negative symptoms are frequently experienced by people with schizophrenia. People with negative symptoms often have impaired social functioning and reduced quality of life. There is some evidence that cognitive-behavioural therapy results in a modest reduction in negative symptoms. Behavioural activation may be an effective alternative treatment for negative symptoms.The study aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a behavioural activation trial delivered in three community mental health services in South Australia to support adult consumers experiencing negative symptoms of schizophrenia. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: This randomised controlled study will recruit a total of 60 consumers aged 18 years or above with mild-moderate negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The consumers will be randomly allocated to receive behavioural activation plus usual mental healthcare or usual mental healthcare alone. The intervention group will receive twelve 30 min sessions of behavioural activation, which will be delivered twice weekly over 6 weeks. In addition, we aim to recruit nine mental health workers from the three rural mental health services who will complete a 10-week online training programme in behavioural activation. Changes in negative symptoms of schizophrenia and depressive symptoms will be assessed at three time points: (a) at baseline, at 6 weeks and 3 month follow-ups. Changes in health-related quality of life (Short Form F36; secondary outcome) will be assessed at two time points: (a) at baseline and (b) immediately at postintervention after 6 weeks. At the end of the trial, interviews will be conducted with purposively selected mental health workers and consumers. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis will be used to assess feasibility and acceptability. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The findings from our feasibility study will inform the design of a fully powered randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of behavioural activation as a treatment for negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The study protocol was approved by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee. The findings from this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12623000348651p.

Drivers of access to cardiovascular health care for rural Indigenous Peoples: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Māori (the Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) are disproportionately represented in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence, morbidity and mortality rates, and are less likely to receive evidence-based CVD health care. Rural Māori experience additional barriers to treatment access, poorer health outcomes and a greater burden of CVD risk factors compared to Non-Māori and Māori living in urban areas. Importantly, these inequities are similarly experienced by Indigenous Peoples in other nations impacted by colonisation. Given the scarcity of available literature, a systematic scoping review was conducted on literature exploring barriers and facilitators in accessing CVD health care for rural Māori and other Indigenous Peoples in nations impacted by colonisation. METHODS: The review was underpinned by Kaupapa Māori Research methodology and was conducted utilising Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) methodological framework. A database search of MEDLINE (OVID), PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, CINAHL Plus, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre and NZResearch.org was used to explore empirical research literature. A grey literature search was also conducted. Literature based in any healthcare setting providing care to adults for CVD was included. Rural or remote Indigenous Peoples from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the US were included. Literature was included if it addressed cardiovascular conditions and reported barriers and facilitators to healthcare access in any care setting. RESULTS: A total of 363 articles were identified from the database search. An additional 19 reports were identified in the grey literature search. Following screening, 16 articles were included from the database search and 5 articles from the grey literature search. The literature was summarised using the Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) Framework principles: tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), partnership, active protection, equity and options. Themes elucidated from the literature were described as key drivers of CVD healthcare access for rural Indigenous Peoples. Key driver themes included input from rural Indigenous Peoples on healthcare service design and delivery, adequate resourcing and support of indigenous and rural healthcare services, addressing systemic racism and historical trauma, providing culturally appropriate health care, rural Indigenous Peoples' access to family and wellbeing support, rural Indigenous Peoples' differential access to the wider social determinants of health, effective interservice linkages and communication, and equity-driven and congruent data systems. CONCLUSION: The findings are consistent with other literature exploring access to health care for rural Indigenous Peoples. This review offers a novel approach to summarising literature by situating the themes within the context of equity and rights for Indigenous Peoples. This review also highlighted the need for further research in this area to be conducted in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Risk Of Waiting Up To One Year For Cardiac Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac disease is associated with a risk of death, both by the cardiac condition and by comorbidities. The waiting time for surgery begins with the onset of symptoms and includes referral, completion of the diagnosis and surgical waiting list (SWL). This study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected surgical capacity and patients' morbidities. METHODS: The cohort includes 1914 consecutive adult patients (36.6% women, mean age 67 ±11 years), prospectively registered in the official SWL from January 2019 to December 2021. We analyzed waiting times ranging from 4 days to one year to exclude urgencies and outliers. Priority was classified by the national criteria for non-oncologic or oncology surgery. RESULTS: During the study period, 74% of patients underwent surgery, 19.2% were still waiting, and 4.3% dropped out. Most cases were valvular (41.2%) or isolated bypass procedures (34.2%). Patients were classified as non-priority in 29.7%, priority in 61.8%, and high priority in 8.6%, with significantly different SWL mean times between groups (p<0.001). The overall mean waiting time was 167 ± 135 days. Mortality on SWL was 2.5%, or 1.1 deaths per patient/weeks. There were two mortality independent predictors: age (HR 1.05) and the year 2021 versus 2019 (HR 2.07) and a trend toward higher mortality in priority patients versus non-priority (p=0.065). The overall risk increased with time with different slopes for each year. Using the time limits for SWL in oncology, there would have been a significant risk reduction (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The increased risk observed in 2021 may be related to the pandemic, either by increasing waiting time or by direct mortality. Since risk stratification is not entirely accurate, waiting time emerges as the most crucial factor influencing mortality, and implementing stricter time limits could have led to lower mortality rates.

Impact of COVID-19 on the time to counseling and treatment of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: This study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic (CP) impacted the timeline between initial diagnosis (ID) of prostate carcinoma and subsequent therapy consultation (TC) or radical prostatectomy (RP) due to the implementation of a "minimal contact concept," which postponed clinical examinations until the day of admission. METHODS: We analyzed patient data from a tertiary care center from 2018 to September 2021. The focus was on comparing the time intervals from ID to TC and from ID to RP before and during the CP. RESULTS: Of 12,255 patients, 6,073 (61.6%) were treated before and 3,791 (38.4%) during the CP. The median time from ID to TC reduced from 37 days (IQR: 21 - 58d) pre-CP to 32 days (IQR: 20 - 50d) during CP (p < 0.001). Similarly, the time from ID to RP decreased from 98 days (IQR: 70 - 141d) to 75 days (IQR: 55 - 108d; p < 0.001) during the CP. There was a significant decrease in low-risk tumor cases at ID (18.9% vs. 21.4%; p = 0.003) and post-RP (4% vs. 6.7%; p < 0.001) during the CP. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated more timely treatment of prostate cancer, suggesting potential benefits for both low-risk and aggressive tumor management through expedited clinical procedures.

Dynamic measurements of geographical accessibility considering traffic congestion using open data: a cross-sectional assessment for haemodialysis services in Cali, Colombia.

Background: Many cities with traffic congestion lack accessibility assessments accounting for traffic congestion and equity considerations but have disaggregated georeferenced municipal-level open data on health services, populations, and travel times big data. We convened a multistakeholder intersectoral collaborative group that developed a digital, web-based platform integrating open and big data to derive dynamic spatial-temporal accessibility measurements (DSTAM) for haemodialysis services. We worked with stakeholders and data scientists and considered people's places of residence, service locations, and travel time to the service with the shortest travel time. Additionally, we predicted the impacts of strategically introducing haemodialysis services where they optimise accessibility. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of DSTAM, accounting for traffic congestion, were conducted using a web-based platform. This platform integrated traffic analysis zones, public census and health services datasets, and Google Distance Matrix API travel-time data. Predictive and prescriptive analytics identified optimal locations for new haemodialysis services and estimated improvements. Primary outcomes included the percentage of residents within a 20-min car drive of a haemodialysis service during peak and free-flow traffic congestion. Secondary outcomes focused on optimal locations to maximise accessibility with new services and potential improvements. Findings were disaggregated by sociodemographic characteristics, providing an equity perspective. The study in Cali, Colombia, used geographic and disaggregated sociodemographic data from the adjusted 2018 Colombian census. Predicted travel times were obtained for two weeks in 2020. Findings: There were substantial traffic variations. Congestion reduced accessibility, especially among marginalised groups. For 6-12 July, free-flow and peak-traffic accessibility rates were 95.2% and 45.0%, respectively. For 23-29 November, free-flow and peak traffic accessibility rates were 89.1% and 69.7%. The locations where new services would optimise accessibility had slight variation and would notably enhance accessibility and health equity. Interpretation: Establishing haemodialysis services in targeted areas has significant potential benefits. By increasing accessibility, it would enhance urban health and equity. Funding: No external or institutional funding was received.

Differences in Receipt of Time Alone with Healthcare Providers Among US Youth Ages 12-17.

BACKGROUND: Time to meet privately with a health care provider can support optimal adolescent health, but numerous barriers exist to implementing this practice routinely. METHODS: We examined parent reports on their children aged 12 to 17 from a nationally generalizable sample to quantify the presence of time alone with health care providers at the state and national level, as well as socio-contextual correlates using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We estimated that only 1 in 2 adolescents had a confidential discussion at their last medical visit. Certain child, family, and health care factors were associated with lower likelihood for having had confidential discussions. Specifically, adolescents who were Asian; did not have mental, emotional, or behavioral problems; were uninsured; or lived in households with parents who were immigrants, less educated, or did not speak English had significantly lower odds for having had time alone compared with referent groups. DISCUSSION: Clinical and structural efforts to rectify these gaps may assist a broader share of youth in benefiting from private health care discussions with providers.

Understanding the impact of a residential housing program for people living with HIV/AIDS: results from a realist evaluation.

BACKGROUND: In Canada, the Public Health Agency surveillance of new HIV cases has demonstrated annual increasing rates since 2020. The rates of new HIV cases are highest in the province of Saskatchewan. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the project was to conduct a resident-oriented realist evaluation of an innovative supportive housing programme, Sanctum, for people living with HIV/AIDS who also face social care issues, such as homelessness. This project took place in Saskatchewan, a province that is seeking innovative approaches to improve quality of life and HIV/AIDS management for its citizens. Our evaluation addressed how and why participants were successful (or not) within the Sanctum programme. DESIGN AND SETTING: Sanctum is a housing programme located in an inner-city location within the province of Saskatchewan. A unique component of this evaluation was the inclusion of an individual with lived experience, a resident partner, as a member of the research team. PARTICIPANTS: 11 recent Sanctum graduates, seven men and four women, were recruited for client partner-led in-depth, semistructured interviews. INTERVENTIONS: Prior to the evaluation, we developed a realist programme theory with potential causal explanations, known as context-mechanism-outcomes (CMO) configurations. Interview data from the evaluation and ongoing discussions with Sanctum board members and our resident partner were used to test, refine and validate the final programme theory and CMO configurations. RESULTS: CMO configurations at the micro (individual), meso (interpersonal) and macro (community) levels complement the over-arching programme theory. Key findings were the importance of Sanctum's harm reduction philosophy, accompanied by a non-judgmental and patient-oriented approach. Participants were supported to reduce risky behaviour, improve self-care management and develop healthier relationships within a 'safe' home-like setting. Underlying mechanisms that contributed to participants' success in the programme included: intrinsic motivation, self-worth, belongingness, empowerment and self-efficacy. Evidence-informed recommendations are offered to support Sanctum-like programme development for individuals with holistic health needs related to HIV/AIDS diagnoses and lack of access to necessary social determinants of health. CONCLUSIONS: Stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and living circumstances, such as homelessness, were successfully addressed using harm reduction principles and judgement-free approaches within a family-like environment.

Understanding the health system utilisation and reasons for avoidable mortality after fatal injury within a Three-Delays framework in Karonga, Northern Malawi: a retrospective analysis of verbal autopsy data.

OBJECTIVES: To use verbal autopsy (VA) data to understand health system utilisation and the potential avoidability associated with fatal injury. Then to categorise any evident barriers driving avoidable delays to care within a Three-Delays framework that considers delays to seeking (Delay 1), reaching (Delay 2) or receiving (Delay 3) quality injury care. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of existing VA data routinely collected by a demographic surveillance site. SETTING: Karonga Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) population, Northern Malawi. PARTICIPANTS: Fatally injured members of the HDSS. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the proportion of fatal injury deaths that were potentially avoidable. Secondary outcomes were the delay stage and corresponding barriers associated with avoidable deaths and the health system utilisation for fatal injuries within the health system. RESULTS: Of the 252 deaths due to external causes, 185 injury-related deaths were analysed. Deaths were predominantly among young males (median age 30, IQR 11-48), 71.9% (133/185). 35.1% (65/185) were assessed as potentially avoidable. Delay 1 was implicated in 30.8% (20/65) of potentially avoidable deaths, Delay 2 in 61.5% (40/65) and Delay 3 in 75.4% (49/65). Within Delay 1, 'healthcare literacy' was most commonly implicated barrier in 75% (15/20). Within Delay 2, 'communication' and 'prehospital care' were the most commonly implicated in 92.5% (37/40). Within Delay 3, 'physical resources' were most commonly implicated, 85.7% (42/49). CONCLUSIONS: VA is feasible for studying pathways to care and health system responsiveness in avoidable deaths following injury and ascertaining the delays that contribute to deaths. A large proportion of injury deaths were avoidable, and we have identified several barriers as potential targets for intervention. Refining and integrating VA with other health system assessment methods is likely necessary to holistically understand an injury care health system.

How do people living with obesity who use obesity services perceive healthcare professionals' representation of the disease on social media? An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore how people living with obesity who use obesity services perceive healthcare professionals' (HCPs) online representation of the disease on social media. By exploring their perspective, we aimed to develop a framework to inform good practice around social media use for HCPs. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study using a phenomenological framework. Following in-depth semi-structured interviews, analysis was undertaken to identify superordinate themes relating to how HCPs portray living with obesity online. SETTING: Patient advocacy organisation (The Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity) and three clinical sites offering obesity treatment in Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: 15 adult participants comprising of 12 women and 3 men who use social media and are living with obesity and who use obesity services. RESULTS: Three key themes of how people living with obesity who use obesity services perceive HCP's online representation of the disease. (1) Negative experiences of HCPs-participants describe encountering weight stigma and bias on social media from HCPs that they characterised as simplistic and outdated conceptualisations. These engender shame, fear and anger. (2) Positive experience of HCPs-participants report social media allows HCPs to educate and inform public perception of obesity. Positive online experiences lead to feelings of inclusion, understanding and encouragement. (3) Expectations of HCPs-qualifications, professional titles and academic association affected the perceived trustworthiness of information and its impact on readers. Participants feel there is a duty of care for HCPs in obesity medicine to advocate and be active online to provide accurate medical information. CONCLUSION: HCP's use of social media has a powerful impact on people with obesity who use healthcare and obesity services. Social media is a key tool in obesity awareness and education. We propose the '3E' framework-Empower, Evidence-Based and Educate and be educated to guide HCPs' social media use.

Patient experiences and perspectives of health service access for carpal tunnel syndrome in Aotearoa New Zealand: a normalisation process theory-informed qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Early access to care for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can avoid higher rates of surgery and permanent harm yet is often delayed, particularly for populations more likely to underutilise care. OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore patient experiences and perspectives of health service access for CTS to inform an equity-focussed co-design of a health service for improving early care access. METHODS: In this Normalisation Process Theory (NPT)-informed qualitative study we conducted semistructured in-depth interviews with 19 adults with experience of CTS. Recruitment prioritised New Zealand Maori, Pasifika, low-income, and rural populations. Data were analysed using deductive then inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: We identified five major themes: (1) the 'Significant Impact of CTS' of the sense-making and relational work to understand the condition, deciding when to get care, compelling clinicians to provide care, and garnering help from others; (2) 'Waiting and Paying for Care'- the enacting, relational, and appraising work to avoid long wait times unless paying privately, particularly where quality of care was low, employment relations poor, or injury compensation processes faltered; (3) circumstances of 'Occupation and CTS Onset' whereby the burden of proof to relate onset of CT symptoms to occupation created excessive relational and enacting work; (4) the 'Information Scarcity' of good information about CTS and the high relational and appraising work associated with using online resources; (5) 'Negotiating Telehealth Perspectives' where telehealth was valued if it meant earlier access for all despite the challenges it held for many. CONCLUSION: Quality, culturally and linguistically responsive information and communication from clinicians and health services will improve equitable early access to CTS care including realising the potential of telehealth modes of care. Policy changes that reduce individual burden of proof in injury compensation claims processes, enable time off work to attend health appointments, and increase public funding for surgical resources would improve early access to CTS care particularly for Maori and Pacific populations and those in small and rural workplaces. NPT is valuable for understanding where opportunities lie to reduce inequitable delays to accessing care including the impact of racism, particularly for populations more likely to underutilise care.

Study protocol for a type-II hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to reach teenagers using mobile money shops to reduce unintended pregnancies in Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: Unintended teenage pregnancies have become a global public health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a notably high prevalence of unintended pregnancies among unmarried teenagers in Uganda. This study will develop an intervention programme using mobile money shops (vendors) as a platform to deliver sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services to teenagers and assess its effectiveness and scalability in Uganda. METHODS AND ANALYSES: This hybrid study comprises two integral components: an intervention study to assess the effectiveness of vendor-mediated intervention and implementation research to evaluate the implementation process. 30 vendors will be recruited for both intervention and control arms in 2 municipalities in Eastern Uganda, which have a high unintended pregnancy prevalence rate among unmarried teens aged 15-19 years. A preintervention and postintervention repeated survey involving 600 participants for each arm will be conducted over 4 months. The primary outcome is the rate of condom users among teenage vendor users. The secondary outcomes include the rate of preference for receiving SRHR services at vendors and knowledge regarding SRHR. A difference-in-differences analysis will be used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The Bowen model will be employed to evaluate the implementation design. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of Uganda Christen University and JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development in Japan. The findings will be widely disseminated. This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan (UMIN000053332) on 12 January 2024. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000053332.

Factors that affect the health of immigrants: Qualitative meta synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Migration has challenged society. Most people who move do so for economic reasons, but others move for more tragic reasons. The proportion of female migrants was slightly higher than that of male migrants, partly due to the longer life expectancy of women and the higher demand for female migrants in care-related Jobs. The process may affect migrants' health, particularly in countries where healthcare is associated with high economic costs or insurance availability. A global systematic review of qualitative studies with meta-synthesis was conducted. The results can be used to support health policy and clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To describe how migrants perceive and experience the process of migrating and how it affects their health. SEARCH STRATEGY: Databases consulted were Medline, PsychInfo, Cuiden, Cinahl, WOS, Scopus, Social Science Database, and Epistemonikos. Thirty-four articles were selected for final meta-synthesis. INCLUSION CRITERIA: All qualitative primary studies were included that describe the experiences or perceptions of migrants and refugees over 18 years that talk about their migration process and the impact on their health; written in English or Spanish between 2016 and 2021. Articles referring to second generations and those dealing with pathologies that pre-date the migration process were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: The COREQ and JBI templates were used as quality criteria. Studies mostly used a phenomenological methodology and in-depth interviews, both individual and group, were used for data collection and narrative synthesis. MAIN RESULTS: Uncertainty emerges as a main category. Three other interrelated themes have a direct impact on migrants' health: Language, Social Networks and Work. There are several conditions in each of these that have a positive or negative impact on health. The gender condition appears in both work and social networks, positively and negatively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Health would be improved by having a stable job, which would facilitate access to health resources. Social networks and language are facilitators of access to a better job, but not the only condition. From a gender perspective, social networks can become a source of health problems, especially for women. The process of migration places women in a position of vulnerability due to the difficulties of reconciling family and work life. Job insecurity, workload, loss of family life or social isolation increase hopelessness and anxiety, leading to health problems. PUBLIC OR PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: As an academic review study, no patient contribution was required, and this study serves as a theoretical framework for more in-depth research that will work with migrant populations. As a public contribution, this work provides evidence of the need to improve access to health for some populations, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030.

Impact of a pandemic shock on unmet medical needs of middle-aged and older adults in 10 countries.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to explore the impact of the pandemic shock on the unmet medical needs of middle-aged and older adults worldwide. METHODS: The COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020 was used as a quasiexperiment. Exposure to the pandemic was defined based on an individual's context within the global pandemic. Data were obtained from the Integrated Values Surveys. A total of 11 932 middle-aged and older adults aged 45 years and above from 10 countries where the surveys conducted two times during 2011 and 2022 were analysed. We used logistic regression models with the difference-in-difference method to estimate the impact of pandemic exposure on unmet medical needs by comparing differences before and after the pandemic across areas with varying degrees of severity. RESULTS: Among the 11 932 middle-aged and older adults, 3647 reported unmet medical needs, with a pooled unmet rate of 30.56% (95% CI: 29.74% to 31.40%). The pandemic significantly increased the risk of unmet medical needs among middle-aged and older adults (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.94 to 2.79). The deleterious effect of the pandemic on unmet medical needs was prevalent among middle-aged adults (2.53, 2.00 to 3.20) and older adults (2.00, 1.48 to 2.69), as well as among men (2.24, 1.74 to 2.90) and women (2.34, 1.82 to 3.03). The results remained robust in a series of sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that efforts should be made by policymakers and healthcare professionals to balance healthcare resources to adequately address the comprehensive healthcare demands of individuals regarding multiple health issues, taking into account the challenges posed by pandemics.

Healthcare Access Worsened for Women in Precarious Housing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

This research aims to gain an in-depth understanding of precariously housed women's experiences related to health and access to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic using a grounded theory approach. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with 17 precariously housed women from Izmir, Turkey. Poor health among most participants was primarily attributed to unfavorable living conditions and weakened community networks. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing health issues due to barriers in accessing basic needs. Food insecurity was widespread during the pandemic and the critical role of aid and the inadequacy of social assistance in securing food were emphasized. Women's health perceptions were significantly shaped by gender, and gendered caregiving duties have restricted women's healthcare access. Access to healthcare was also limited by financial challenges, with health insurance being a crucial determinant. Longer waiting times, often exacerbated by the appointment system, and language were significant barriers to healthcare access. The findings propose that the participants were precarized by the blindness of COVID-19 measures to vulnerabilities, which resulted in deeper inequalities in housing, food, employment, and healthcare access. This research addresses the political, commercial, and social determinants of precariously housed women's health. Improving precariously housed women's health and wellbeing requires implementation of public policies targeting to improve housing quality, provide targeted assistance to food insecurity, promote gender inclusiveness, and foster gender empowerment.

Community perceptions, beliefs and factors determining family planning uptake among men and women in Ekiti State, Nigeria: finding from a descriptive exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine family planning through the community's perception, belief system and cultural impact; in addition to identifying the determining factors for family planning uptake. DESIGN: A descriptive exploratory study. SETTING: Three communities were selected from three local government areas, each in the three senatorial districts in Ekiti State. PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted among young unmarried women in the reproductive age group who were sexually active as well as married men and women in the reproductive age group who are currently living with their partners and were sexually active. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Eight focus group discussions were conducted in the community in 2019 with 28 male and 50 female participants. The audio recordings were transcribed, triangulated with notes and analysed using QSR NVivo V.8 software. Community perception, beliefs and perceptions of the utility of family planning, as well as cultural, religious and other factors determining family planning uptake were analysed. RESULTS: The majority of the participants had the perception that family planning helps married couple only. There were diverse beliefs about family planning and mixed reactions with respect to the impact of culture and religion on family planning uptake. Furthermore, a number of factors were identified in determining family planning uptake-intrapersonal, interpersonal and health system factors. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that there are varied reactions to family planning uptake due to varied perception, cultural and religious beliefs and determining factors. It was recommended that more targeted male partner engagement in campaign would boost family planning uptake.

Conceptual framework for establishing twins prevention and continuous health promotion programme: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Twin registries and cohorts face numerous challenges, including significant resource allocation, twins' recruitment and retention. This study aimed to assess expert feedback on a proposed pragmatic idea for launching a continuous health promotion and prevention programme (HPPP) to establish and maintain twin cohorts. DESIGN: A qualitative study incorporating an inductive thematic analysis. SETTING: Tehran University of Medical Sciences. PARTICIPANTS: Researchers with expertise in twin studies participated in our study. ANALYSIS AND DESIGN: Expert opinions were gathered through focus group discussions (FGDs). Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the findings and develop a model for designing a comprehensive, long-term health promotion programme using ATLAS.ti software. Additionally, a standardised framework was developed to represent the conceptual model of the twin HPPP. RESULTS: Eight FGDs were conducted, involving 16 experts. Thematic analysis identified eight themes and seven subthemes that encompassed the critical aspects of a continuous monitoring programme for twin health. Based on these identified themes, a conceptual framework was developed for the implementation of an HPPP tailored for twins. CONCLUSION: This study presented the initial endeavour to establish a comprehensive and practical solution in the form of a continuous HPPP designed to tackle the obstacles of twins' cohorts.

Evaluation of the Tuto'Tour pregnancy intervention among pregnant smokers in vulnerable situations / Évaluation du dispositif Tuto'Tour de la grossesse chez les femmes fumeuses enceintes vulnérables.

INTRODUCTION: In France, pregnant women generally receive written information about their pregnancy. The efficacy of these materials is limited for socially disadvantaged women, who are more likely to have lower levels of health literacy. As an alternative tool, awareness-raising videos have become popular, and the "Tuto'Tour de la grossesse" health promotion intervention has been created, which includes videos about smoking. The study objective was to evaluate the acceptability, usability, and accessibility of two videos about smoking among pregnant smokers in vulnerable situations. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with these women, using a participatory approach. We then carried out a hybrid qualitative analysis, combining an analysis based on a conceptual framework and an inductive analysis. RESULTS: Out of twenty participants, nine were separated from their child's father and nine were unemployed. Twelve participants had less than a baccalaureate level of education and seven had a mother tongue other than French. Participants found the videos acceptable, usable, and accessible. We received positive feedback about the efficacy of the videos in terms of participants' ability, opportunity, and motivation to change their behavior. Suggestions for improving the videos were made. CONCLUSIONS: Other studies have looked at health promotion with similar interventions, but acceptability, usability, and accessibility have not been tested with socially disadvantaged women. These videos, which are acceptable, usable, and accessible to socially disadvantaged people, seem to have an influence on two out of three factors leading to behavior change. They could now be tested on a larger scale in a randomized controlled study.

Introduction: En France, les femmes enceintes reçoivent généralement des informations concernant leur grossesse sous forme écrite. Ces supports présentent des limites pour les femmes en situation de vulnérabilité, à plus haut risque d'avoir une littératie en santé limitée. Ainsi, les vidéos de sensibilisation sont devenues populaires et le dispositif de promotion de santé « Tuto'Tour de la grossesse ¼ a été créé, comprenant des vidéos sur le tabac. L'objectif de notre étude était d'évaluer l'acceptabilité, l'utilisabilité et l'accessibilité de deux vidéos sur le tabagisme chez les femmes enceintes fumeuses en situation de vulnérabilité. Méthodes: Nous avons conduit des entretiens semi-directifs auprès de ces femmes, en suivant une approche participative. Nous avons ensuite procédé à une analyse qualitative hybride, combinant une analyse fondée sur une trame conceptuelle et une analyse inductive. Résultats: Sur vingt participantes, neuf étaient séparées du père de l'enfant et neuf étaient sans emploi. Douze d'entre elles n'avaient pas atteint un niveau de formation équivalent au baccalauréat et sept avaient une langue maternelle autre que le français. Les vidéos ont été jugées acceptables, utilisables et accessibles pour les participantes. Des retours positifs ont été recueillis concernant l'efficacité des vidéos à induire un changement de comportement. Des pistes pour améliorer les vidéos ont été suggérées. Conclusions: D'autres études s'intéressent à des dispositifs similaires mais l'acceptabilité, l'utilisabilité et l'accessibilité n'ont pas été testées. Ces vidéos semblent avoir une influence sur deux des trois facteurs menant à un changement de comportement. Elles peuvent maintenant être testées à plus grande échelle dans une étude contrôlée randomisée.