Project description:BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is prevalent among working age individuals (20-60 years), leading to high burden on work productivity. Few data are available about the absenteeism and presenteeism in employed individuals with MS in comparison to non-MS personnel. This study aimed to quantify the burden of illness of employed US adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and examine burden by levels of work impairment.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using patient-reported responses from the US National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS). Data from NHWS 2015-2016 were analyzed from 196 employed RRMS respondents who were matched 1:4 to employed respondents without MS based on demographic and general health characteristics. Demographic and general health characteristics for employed RRMS individuals were analyzed by levels of work impairment (none, 1-30%; 31-68%; 69-100%). Work productivity (absenteeism, presenteeism, and work impairment), decrements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (short form-36, EQ-5D), and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) were compared to determine the burden of RRMS.ResultsAfter propensity score matching, the levels of absenteeism and presenteeism were 2 and 1.8 times higher in the employed RRMS population than the employed non-MS population, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). HRQoL was significantly lower in employed respondents with RRMS than those without MS (P < 0.001 for all). Employed respondents with RRMS had significantly more HCRU over 6 months compared to those without MS (P < 0.001). Furthermore, among employed RRMS respondents, greater levels of impairment were associated with increasing disease severity, greater healthcare resource use, fatigue, and cognitive impairment and inversely associated with mental and physical HRQoL (P < 0.0001 for all).ConclusionsAmong employed individuals, respondents with RRMS had lower, work productivity, HRQoL, and higher HCRU as compared with those without MS. Given the large impact RRMS has on work impairment, a need exists to manage individuals on therapies that improve HRQoL, reduce symptoms, and improve their ability to perform in the workforce.
Project description:BackgroundA restrictive use of episiotomy was recommended by the obstetric society in China, but limited information on the epidemiology and the effects of restrictive use of episiotomy on maternal and fetal outcomes have been published.MethodsThe China Labor and Delivery Survey is a cross-sectional investigation with a cluster random sampling scheme in 2015-2016 with the aim to describe detailed epidemiology of labor and delivery in China. We calculated the episiotomy rate by parity using the survey data. Associated factors of episiotomy were selected using mixed models with a random effect for the hospital-level clustering. Logistic regression models were fitted to examine the effects of mediolateral episiotomy on maternal and neonatal outcomes among the propensity score-matched women.FindingsThe episiotomy rate among vaginal births was 41·7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 40·1% - 43·2%] in nulliparae and 21·5% (95% CI: 19·4% - 23·5%) in multiparae in China. Associated factors of episiotomy included prepregnancy BMI, maternal diseases, and obstetric factors. More than half of episiotomies in nulliparae and one-fourth in multiparae had no indications. Mediolateral episiotomy without indicators increased the risk of 3rd or 4th degree perineal laceration [odds ratio (OR) =2·64, 95% CI: 1·08-6·48)] in nulliparae without neonatal benefits.InterpretationEpisiotomy was performed more than medically necessary in China. Mediolateral episiotomy without indications more than doubled the risk of 3rd and 4th degree perineal laceration in nulliparae without neonatal benefits.FundingNational Natural Science Foundation of China and Shanghai Health Commission Programme.
Project description:The Internet hospital, an innovative approach to providing health care, is rapidly developing in China because it has the potential to provide widely accessible outpatient service delivery via Internet technologies. To date, China's Internet hospitals have not been systematically investigated.The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of China's Internet hospitals, and to assess their health service capacity.We searched Baidu, the popular Chinese search engine, to identify Internet hospitals, using search terms such as "Internet hospital," "web hospital," or "cloud hospital." All Internet hospitals in mainland China were eligible for inclusion if they were officially registered. Our search was carried out until March 31, 2017.We identified 68 Internet hospitals, of which 43 have been put into use and 25 were under construction. Of the 43 established Internet hospitals, 13 (30%) were in the hospital informatization stage, 24 (56%) were in the Web ward stage, and 6 (14%) were in full Internet hospital stage. Patients accessed outpatient service delivery via website (74%, 32/43), app (42%, 18/43), or offline medical consultation facility (37%, 16/43) from the Internet hospital. Furthermore, 25 (58%) of the Internet hospitals asked doctors to deliver health services at a specific Web clinic, whereas 18 (42%) did not. The consulting methods included video chat (60%, 26/43), telephone (19%, 8/43), and graphic message (28%, 12/43); 13 (30%) Internet hospitals cannot be consulted online any more. Only 6 Internet hospitals were included in the coverage of health insurance. The median number of doctors available online was zero (interquartile range [IQR] 0 to 5; max 16,492). The median consultation fee per time was ¥20 (approximately US $2.90, IQR ¥0 to ¥200).Internet hospitals provide convenient outpatient service delivery. However, many of the Internet hospitals are not yet mature and are faced with various issues such as online doctor scarcity and the unavailability of health insurance coverage. China's Internet hospitals are heading in the right direction to improve provision of health services, but much more remains to be done.
Project description:BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Consequently, patients undergo a multidisciplinary treatment that often requires intensive use of medical resources. This study provides an estimate on the cost of illness depending on the clinical severity while also analysing the patients' health-related quality of life.MethodsPrimary data from patients and caregivers was collected through a standardised questionnaire. Direct medical, direct non-medical and indirect costs were calculated using the latest German health economic guidelines. Patients were divided into five groups according to the King's staging system. Health-related quality of life was assessed using EuroQoL Group EQ-5D-5L™ questionnaire. Influencing factors on both total cost and quality of life were examined.ResultsThe mean annual total cost of illness was 78,256€ per patient while the lifetime cost per patient was estimated at 246,184€. The prevalence based total burden yearly therefore was 519,776,352€ in Germany. Nearly half of the costs were attributable to informal care. With increase of the clinical severity stage, costs rose and quality of life decreased. The score of the revised Amyotrophic Laterals Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale was identified as one major influencing factor on total costs, while subjective impairment in daily activities and classification into a care level as opposed to having no care level influenced patients' quality of life.ConclusionIt is essential to understand the socioeconomic burden of a disease. These data can be used to improve patient care standards and quality of life while also serving as a basis for cost-benefit analyses during the approval process of new treatments.
Project description:BackgroundThe inpatient morbidity and mortality of acute kidney injury (AKI) vary considerably in different clinical units, yet studies to compare the difference remain limited.MethodsWe compared the clinical characteristics of AKI in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), medical and surgical departments by using the data derived from the 2013 nationwide cross-sectional survey of AKI in China to capture variations among different clinical departments in recognition, management, and outcomes of AKI. Suspected AKI patients were identified based on changes in serum creatinine during hospitalization, and confirmed by reviewing medical records.ResultsThe detection rate of AKI was the highest in ICU (22.46%), followed by the rates in medical (1.96%) and surgical departments (0.96%). However, the absolute number of cases was the largest in medical departments, which contributed to 50% of the cases. In medical departments, 78% of AKI cases were extensively distributed in cardiac, nephrology, oncology, gastroenterology, pneumology and neurology departments. In contrast, 87% of AKI cases in surgical departments were mainly from urology, general surgery and cardiothoracic departments. The in-time recognition rates were extremely low in all departments except nephrology. Only 10.5~15.0% AKI patients from non-nephrology departments received renal referral. Among all the death cases, 50% and 39% came from ICU and medical departments while only 11% from surgical departments. Older age, higher AKI stage and renal replacement therapy indication were identified as risk factors for high mortality in all departments. Delayed recognition and no renal referral were significantly associated with increased mortality in medical and ICU patients.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that ICU and medical departments are major affected departments in China with a large number of AKI cases and subsequent high mortality. The reality is more alarming considering the low awareness of AKI and the paucity of effective interventions in the high-risk patients in these departments.
Project description:BackgroundBurnout has gained increasing attention worldwide; however, there is a lack of relevant research in China. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with burnout in physicians of the intensive care unit (ICU) in mainland China.MethodsThis cross-sectional multicenter study included critical care physicians from all provinces in mainland China (except Tibet). A self-administered survey questionnaire was conducted. It included three parts: demographic information, lifestyle and work information, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The levels of burnout were calculated. The factors independently associated with burnout were analyzed by logistic regression.ResultsFinally, 1813 intensivists participated in the survey. The participation rate was 90.7%. The prevalence of burnout and severe burnout was 82.1% (1489/1813) and 38.8% (704/1813), respectively. According to the logistic regression analysis, "difficulty in making treatment decisions" was independently associated with burnout [OR = 1.365, CI (1.060, 1.757)]. "Higher number of children" [OR = 0.714, CI (0.519, 0.981)] and higher "income satisfaction" [OR = 0.771, CI (0.619, 0.959)] were independent protective factors against severe burnout.ConclusionsThe burnout rate in ICU physicians in China is high. Difficult treatment decisions, the number of children, and income satisfaction are independently associated with burnout rates among ICU physicians in China.Trial registrationBurnout syndrome of the Chinese personnel working in intensive care units: a survey in China, ChiCTR-EOC-17013044, registered October 19, 2017. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=22329 .
Project description:AimThis study aimed to investigate scheduling in COVID-19-designated hospitals, including working hours, rest days, adverse nursing outcomes and their relationship.BackgroundHospitals are at the forefront of COVID-19 prevention and control, and nurses are the main force on the frontline of the epidemic. Nursing shift is one of the most relevant and pressing issues for frontline nurses. However, there is a lack of national, large-sample surveys on scheduling and adverse nursing outcomes in COVID-19-designated hospitals.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional online survey, we used nurse-reported data to measure the characteristics of the work setting, samples and work schedule. A descriptive analysis was performed to assess the shift status and adverse outcomes of designated hospitals and frontline nurses. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between them.ResultsBasic data were collected from 217 departments of 69 COVID-19-designated hospitals in 31 provinces in China. Nurses in the severe isolation ward worked mainly for 4 h per shift, whereas those in the fever clinic and observation ward worked mainly for 6-8 h. Half of the nurses had only 1 day of rest per week. Long working hours, lack of adequate rest time and overtime can seriously affect the quality and safety of nurses' work, resulting in adverse outcomes. Frontline nurses hope that scheduling guarantees the time to rest while ensuring fairness.ConclusionsThe current evidence showed that frontline nurses were faced with long working hours, insufficient rest and overtime, which has a negative impact on nurse satisfaction, physical and mental health and quality of care. The government, hospitals and administrators still face many problems to overcome in their nursing schedules.Implications for nursing managementGovernments and hospitals should take these factors, such as the work setting characteristics and demographic features of the frontline nurses, into account when selecting nurses to fight COVID-19. Nurses have different working hours in different types of coronavirus unit; therefore, nursing managers should consider the working environment and nursing schedule needs, and in the future, we should pay attention to the fairness of nurses while ensuring their rest.
Project description:Background Management of multiple sclerosis (MS) requires a high level of communication between health care professionals (HCPs) and people with MS (pwMS) including profound investigation and discussion of symptoms to identify therapeutic needs. For treatment decisions, monitoring of disease activity is important, in this respect self-monitoring devices and apps, as well as magnetic resonance imaging are important tools. Methods MS Perspectives is a cross-sectional online survey conducted in Germany which was designed to collect data, among others, on the communication between pwMS and HCPs regarding treatment goals, symptom assessment, usage of devices and apps to self-monitor health functions, as well as to identify patients' attitude toward the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Between December 2021 and February 2022, 4,555 pwMS completed the survey. Results In total, 63.7% of participants reported that treatment goals have been discussed with their HCPs. Symptoms worsening in the past 12 months independent of relapses was more often reported by pwMS than inquired by HCPs, according to patients' report. Devices or apps for health monitoring were used by less than half of participants. Frequency of MRI controls was much lower in participants with longer compared to shorter disease duration (47.5 vs. 86.3%). The proportion of patients with annual or semiannual scans was highest among pwMS receiving infusion therapy (93.5%), followed by oral medication (82.5%) and injectables (73.4%), and lowest for pwMS without immunotherapy (58.2%). Conclusion MS Perspectives identified a rather low patient involvement regarding treatment goals and symptom assessment in clinical practice. Regarding this and our findings for health self-monitoring and MRI usage, strategies for improving patient-HCP communication and disease monitoring may be considered.
Project description:BackgroundThe effect of the long-term persistently elevated air pollutants, often referred to as air pollution waves, on sexual function has not been sufficiently addressed.MethodsThis nationwide cross-sectional study involved 12,157 participants, with 5496 females and 5039 males. PM waves were characterized by daily average PM concentrations surpassing Grade II thresholds of China's ambient air quality standards (PM2.5 > 75 μg/m3, PM10 > 150 μg/m3) for three or more consecutive days (3-8 days). Male sexual function was assessed through the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), while female sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A multivariate linear regression model was employed to investigate the link between PM wave exposure and sexual function.ResultsExposure to PM10 waves, defined as 3 (β = -0.0145, 95%CI = -0.0280, -0.0010), 4 (β = -0.0145, 95%CI = -0.0280, -0.0010), 5 (β = -0.0193, 95%CI = -0.0371, -0.0015), 6 (β = -0.0218, 95%CI = -0.0415, -0.0021), 7 (β = -0.0243, 95%CI = -0.0458, -0.0028), and 8 (β = -0.0243, 95%CI = -0.0458, -0.0028) consecutive days, negatively impacted IIEF-5 scores and male sexual function. Moreover, depression levels, as evaluated by the PHQ-9, played a mediating role in the connection between PM10 waves and IIEF-5 scores. The potentially vulnerable subgroups were the younger 20-30 and the low-income groups.ConclusionsOur results suggest for the first time that PM10 waves are associated with decreased IIEF-5 scores, which are mediated by depression score PHQ-9, informing policy formulation for public health interventions and individual safeguarding.
Project description:ObjectivesThere is significant burden on caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, only a few studies have focused on caregivers, and traditional research methods have obvious shortcomings in dealing with multiple influencing factors. This study was designed to explore influencing factors on caregiver burden among ALS patients and their caregivers from a new perspective.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe data were collected at an affiliated hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.ParticipantsFifty-seven pairs of patients with ALS and their caregivers were investigated by standardised questionnaires.Main outcome measuresThis study primarily assessed the influencing factor of caregiver burden including age, gender, education level, economic status, anxiety, depression, social support, fatigue, sleep quality and stage of disease through data mining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was established by Python 3.8.1 to minimise the effect of multicollinearity.ResultsAccording to LASSO regression model, we found 10 variables had weights. Among them, Milano-Torinos (MITOS) stage (0-1) had the highest weight (-12.235), followed by younger age group (-3.198), lower-educated group (2.136), fatigue (1.687) and social support (-0.455). Variables including sleep quality, anxiety, depression and sex (male) had moderate weights in this model. Economic status (common), economic status (better), household (city), household (village), educational level (high), sex (female), age (older) and MITOS stage (2-4) had a weight of zero.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that the severity of ALS patients is the most influencing factor in caregiver burden. Caregivers of ALS patients may suffer less from caregiver burden when the patients are less severe, and the caregivers are younger. Low educational status could increase caregiver burden. Caregiver burden is positively correlated with the degree of fatigue and negatively correlated with social support. Hopefully, more attention should be paid to caregivers of ALS, and effective interventions can be developed to relieve this burden.