Cross border Classical Swine Fever control: Improving Dutch and German crisis management systems by an integrated public-private approach

The objective of this research approach is to analyse in which ways crisis management measures against Classical Swine Fever (CSF) can be improved by a public private cross border model. A core activity contains the analysis of information and communication systems: In a case study it has been empirically analysed if a sufficient supply of public and private information enables crisis managers at both sides of the Dutch-German border area to take decisions about CSF control more efficient. At the end of this approach a new crisis management model had been developed. One of the most important aspects thereby is the assessment of data: (1) within private quality management systems in normal times according to the benefit for public management tasks in times of crisis and (2) within public crisis management systems according to the benefit for cross-border CSF-control activities. To this effect two different methodological approaches have been combined within the model: (1) a method to identify and illustrate public actors and their options in crisis management decision making and (2) a system of communication and information exchange between public and private as well as Dutch and German actors (engage& exchange model) which permit to collect and to evaluate data in addition for a predefined time period are activated

Quality of Health Care for Medicare Beneficiaries: A Chartbook

Provides the results of a review of recently published studies and reports about the quality of health care for elderly Medicare beneficiaries. Includes examples of deficiencies and disparities in care, and some promising quality improvement initiatives

Vaccine Risk Communication: Lessons from Risk Perception, Decision Making and Environmental Risk Communication Research

Dr. Bostrom reviews the rich variety of empirical findings available to guide risk communication and demonstrates how it can contribute to vaccine risk and safety communication

Predicting the Impact of COVID-19 on Air Transportation Volumes

COVID-19 has significant impacts on air transportation. This paper aims to predict domestic and international transportation volumes during the pandemic. Daily trips by distance are novel variables in the prediction. Additionally, COVID-19 severity, vaccination, and economic index are other predictors. Artificial Neural Networks and Monte Carlo simulations were used to develop and validate the predictive models using data from various sources in 2021. The findings confirm the importance of daily trips by distance and vaccination as significant predictors. Airlines can use the models to predict air transportation volumes and formulate appropriate strategies to meet the air travel demand and improve profitability

A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Hepatitis A and B Vaccination in Adults with Hepatitis C in a Federally Qualified Health Center

Problem Statement: Despite long-standing recommendations for vaccination against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) in persons with chronic liver disease and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the life-threatening complications suffered from cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer (HCC), vaccination rates for HAV and HBV in adults are suboptimal in clinical practice.;Theoretical Framework: Based upon published clinical guidelines and performance measures for optimal care of HCV-infected persons, a quality improvement project was implemented guided by Kotter\u27s eight-step change model. Strategies adopted from the 4 Pillars(TM) Practice Transformation Program, including staff/provider education, standing orders, immunization champions, open access/walk-in vaccination during office hours, posters promoting vaccination electronic medical record (EMR) reminders, patient post card reminders, and weekly charts to track progress were used.;Project Description: Retrospective EMR reviews from patients with a detectable HCV viral load (HCV RNA) were conducted at the start of the project and three months following the intervention. Demographic data along with HCV RNA, HAV total antibody (HAV Ab), HBV surface antibody (HBsAb), and vaccination against HAV and HBV were derived from EMR reports, comparing vaccination rates before and after the intervention. A secondary goal included increasing provider and staff knowledge related to hepatitis and clinical guideline recommendations for immunization against HAV and HBV in persons with chronic liver disease and HCV infection. Using a quasi-experimental, one group pretest-posttest design, health care providers\u27 and staff members\u27 knowledge related to hepatitis and clinical guideline recommendations for immunization against HAV and HBV were evaluated before and after the educational intervention using 20-items from a pretest-posttest questionnaire.;Findings and Implications: The educational intervention significantly increased the providers\u27 and staff knowledge about hepatitis C. There was an average gain of 16.76 points (95% confidence interval, 13.32, 20.20) on a knowledge test after the educational presentation. This gain was statistically significant at p ≤ .05 by the paired t-test (two-tailed). Improvements were seen for Havrix (16.9% pre-intervention, 19.7% post-intervention); Engerix-B (2.3% pre-intervention, 3.5% post-intervention); and Twinrix (20.8% pre-intervention, 21.4% post-intervention). Overall vaccination rates were increased by 4.6% in a predominantly publicly insured patient population. The goal of increasing vaccination rates by 20% was not met. However, multi-strategy, evidence-based interventions were an effective means of increasing HAV and HBV vaccinations in a community health center and led to increased access to vaccination services, increased community demand for vaccines, and improved system-based performance

Influenza and Asthma: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Evidenced-Based Intervention Bundle on the Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Asthmatic Children Age Six Months to 18 Years

The American Academy of Pediatrics has begun an initiative called Accelerating Improved Care for Children with Asthma Program Chapter Quality Network Asthma Project, Phase 3 (CQN3). This project is a conscious effort to enhance the quality of life in asthmatics. One important initiative included in this project is to achieve 90% or greater influenza vaccination rates in children age six months and older with asthma. This is because children with asthma who contract influenza have increased morbidity and mortality rates than do their non-asthmatic counterparts. Studies have shown vaccination rates for these children are typically between 9 to 26%, and vaccination is the best and safest way to prevent influenza. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidenced-based intervention bundle on the influenza vaccination rates among asthmatic children age six month to 18 years in one local pediatric office. Data was collected through a retrospective chart review looking at vaccination rates for the (September to March) 2012-2013 influenza season and the 2013-2014 influenza season to see if an evidenced-based intervention bundle could make a difference in vaccination compliance

Explaining Hospital Length of Stay of Patients Admitted with Seasonal Influenza Infection

The annual occurrence of seasonal influenza virus poses a significant health burden. Certain populations are at higher risk for influenza infection, such as cigarette smokers, the elderly, and patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Monitoring the length of time that patients are hospitalized with influenza is of clinical importance. The objectives of this study were to identify characteristics of patients hospitalized with influenza and to determine whether smoking correlates to extended LOS (length of stay in hospital). It was hypothesized that smoking and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) would most significantly explain prolonged LOS. Information was collected from a cohort of adult patients admitted to hospital with influenza during the 2012- 2013 season. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare variables with LOS as an outcome. Among 54 patients, the median age was 73.5 and the median Body Mass Index was 26.1 kg/m2. Exactly two-thirds were smokers and just under one-third was diagnosed with COPD. Univariate statistical analyses determined that patients with COPD, diabetes, and more than one comorbid condition had significantly increased LOS (p = 0.0129*, 0.0191*, 0.0046*; respectively). A generalized linear model was generated (n = 50), revealing that patients with COPD and more than one comorbid condition significantly correlated to prolonged LOS (p = 0.0266* and 0.0079*, respectively). Smoking status was not a significan indicator for lengthier LOS in either set of analyses. Promoting the use of vaccination for individuals with COPD and extensive comorbid conditions is imperative

Agricultural Information and Indigenous Knowledge in Peasant Economy

Agricultural information and indigenous knowledge were examined among peasants of the central Ethiopian highlands. Measures of central tendency, logical explanation, descriptive analysis, problem solving tests, scoring and logit analysis were performed. The findings indicate that information from extension agents tends to favour peasant associations or farmers that are closer to cities, service cooperatives, politicians and extension agents. Despite variations in the sources and access to information, the extent to which information is subjected to conscious processing determines its value to decision-makers. Furthermore, the value of information is greatly influenced by indigenous knowledge or social experience and schooling. Farmers who are beneficiaries of projects and friends with politicians received higher scores on production problems compared to the control group. Production knowledge is found to be locale-specific and varies by age. Production knowledge is greatly influenced by experience, index of awareness, proximity to infrastructural facilities and sources of information. The findings also indicate that education enables households to relate production problems to experience and outside information. Development strategies could facilitate the attainment of food self-sufficiency if the contents and delivery mechanisms of agricultural information are equitable, and indigenous production knowledge of peasants is integrated with secular and extension education.Agricultural information; indigenous knowledge; peasants; Ethiopia; central tendency; logical explanation; descriptive analysis; problem solving tests; scoring and logit analysis

Growth assessment in preterm children from birth to preschool age

Preterm infant growth is a major health indicator and needs to be monitored with an appropriate growth curve to achieve the best developmental and growth potential while avoiding excessive caloric intake that is linked to metabolic syndrome and hypertension later in life. New international standards for size at birth and postnatal growth for preterm infants are available and need implementation in clinical practice. A prospective, single center observational study was conducted to evaluate the in-hospital and long-term growth of 80 preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 33.3 ± 2.2 weeks, 57% males. Size at birth and at discharge were assessed using the INTERGROWTH-21ST standards, at preschool age with World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards. The employment of INTERGROWTH-21ST Preterm Postnatal longitudinal standards during the in-hospital follow-up significantly reduced the diagnosis of short term extrauterine growth restriction when compared to commonly used cross sectional neonatal charts, with significant lower loss of percentiles between birth and term corrected age (p < 0.0001). The implementation of a package of standards at birth, preterm postnatal growth standards and WHO child growth standards proved to be consistent, with correlation between centile at birth and at follow-up, and therefore effective in monitoring growth in a moderate and late preterm infant cohort without chronic or major morbidities. Infants identified as small for gestational age at birth showed significantly more frequently a need for auxological referral