Determinants of vaccination after the Colombian health system reform

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of individual, household and healthcare system factors on poor children's use of vaccination after the reform of the Colombian health system. METHODS: A household survey was carried out in a random sample of insured poor population in Bogota, in 1999. The conceptual and analytical framework was based on the Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization. It considers two units of analysis for studying vaccination use and its determinants: the insured poor population, including the children and their families characteristics; and the health care system. Statistical analysis were carried out by chi-square test with 95% confidence intervals, multivariate regression models and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The logistic regression analysis showed that vaccination use was related not only to population characteristics such as family size (OR=4.3), living area (OR=1.7), child's age (OR=0.7) and head-of-household's years of schooling (OR=0.5), but also strongly related to health care system features, such as having a regular health provider (OR=6.0) and information on providers' schedules and requirements for obtaining care services (OR=2.1). CONCLUSIONS: The low vaccination use and the relevant relationships to health care delivery systems characteristics show that there are barriers in the healthcare system, which should be assessed and eliminated. Non-availability of regular healthcare and deficient information to the population are factors that can limit service utilization

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Determinants of vaccination after the Colombian health system reform

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of individual, household and healthcare system factors on poor children's use of vaccination after the reform of the Colombian health system. METHODS: A household survey was carried out in a random sample of insured poor population in Bogota, in 1999. The conceptual and analytical framework was based on the Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization. It considers two units of analysis for studying vaccination use and its determinants: the insured poor population, including the children and their families characteristics; and the health care system. Statistical analysis were carried out by chi-square test with 95% confidence intervals, multivariate regression models and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The logistic regression analysis showed that vaccination use was related not only to population characteristics such as family size (OR=4.3), living area (OR=1.7), child's age (OR=0.7) and head-of-household's years of schooling (OR=0.5), but also strongly related to health care system features, such as having a regular health provider (OR=6.0) and information on providers' schedules and requirements for obtaining care services (OR=2.1). CONCLUSIONS: The low vaccination use and the relevant relationships to health care delivery systems characteristics show that there are barriers in the healthcare system, which should be assessed and eliminated. Non-availability of regular healthcare and deficient information to the population are factors that can limit service utilization.OBJETIVO: Analisar o efeito das características do indivíduo carente, da família e do próprio sistema de atendimento com a utilização da vacinação infantil, após a reforma do sistema de saúde, na Colômbia. MÉTODOS: Os dados foram colhidos numa amostra aleatória de assegurados em agregados familiares de baixo rendimento, em Bogotá, em 1999. O padrão analítico e conceitual utilizado baseou-se no Modelo Comportamental de Utilização de Serviços de Saúde de Andersen. Este considera duas unidades de análise para avaliar a vacinação e seus determinantes: 1) a população carente assegurada, inclusive características das crianças e suas famílias; e 2) o sistema de saúde. As análises estatísticas incluíram o teste do qui-quadrado com intervalo de confiança de 95%, modelos de regressão multivariada e coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: A análise de regressão mostra que a vacinação esteve relacionada com o tamanho da família (OR=4,3), a área da residência (OR=1,7), a idade da criança (OR=0,7) e os anos de escolaridade do chefe de família (OR=0,5). Também esteve relacionada com as características do sistema de saúde, tais como a disponibilidade de posto de atendimento (OR=6,0), e a informação sobre os programas e horários dos serviços de saúde (OR=2,1). CONCLUSÕES: Os baixos níveis de vacinação e a importante relação que existe com o sistema de atendimento mostram barreiras que devem ser avaliadas e resolvidas. A inexistência de postos com atendimento regular e a deficiente informação à população são fatores que podem limitar a utilização dos serviços

Tabaquismo en profesionales de la salud del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Morelos

Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de hábito tabáquico por categoría laboral en trabajadores de la salud del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), en el estado de Morelos, México. Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal en 3 133 empleados de los servicios médicos de las 23 unidades médicas con que cuenta la delegación Morelos del IMSS, durante el periodo de octubre de 1998 a marzo de 2000. Mediante un cuestionario autoaplicable se recolectó información sobre patrones de consumo de tabaco en distintas etapas de la vida, así como algunas características demográficas y categoría laboral. Se estimaron prevalencias e intervalos de confianza al 95% por grupos de edad y sexo para distintas categorías laborales. Resultados. De los 3 133 empleados participantes, 53.4% (IC 95% 50.8-56.8) de los hombres y 27.4% (IC 95% 25.4-29.3) de las mujeres contaban con historia de tabaquismo en algún momento de la vida. La prevalencia de tabaquismo activo fue de 28.3 % (IC 95% 25.6-31.0) y 14.4% (IC 95% 12.8-15.9) en hombres y mujeres, respectivamente. Entre los hombres, los médicos presentan una prevalencia de tabaquismo activo menor (20.9%) que la observada entre trabajadores de otras áreas: personal administrativo (33.0%) y personal técnico de distintas categorías (26.6%). Las mujeres muestran en general una prevalencia menor que los hombres en todas las categorías, y las enfermeras presentan una prevalencia discretamente menor (12.5%) que las médicas (16.0%). Conclusiones. El patrón del consumo de tabaco observado en profesionales de la salud del IMSS Morelos muestra una prevalencia menor a la observada en población general. Sin embargo, es necesario continuar con programas para desalentar el consumo del tabaco entre profesionales de la salud, y tratar de hacerlos concientes acerca de la influencia positiva que pueden y deben ejercer en la sociedad para impulsar programas integrados contra el consumo del tabaco y la adicción a la nicotina