200 research outputs found
Diagnostic Technology: Trends of Use and Availability in a 10-Year Period (2011–2020) among Sixteen OECD Countries
Background. Overuse of imaging results in cost increases, with little to no benefit to patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate imaging tests and radiology equipment over a ten-year period in 16 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Methods. Twelve countries were included in a time-trend analysis based on OECD indicators on diagnostic imaging (computer tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and positron emission tomography [PET]). These annual indicators included the number of exams per 1000 population, the number of devices per million population, and the number of exams per device. Average annual percent change was used to measure country-specific trends. Results. Most countries saw a rise in the exam-to-scanner ratio for CT, MRI, and PET, demonstrating a faster increase in exam volume than device volume. Italy exhibited an increase in CT, MRI, and PET equipment units during the same period, but not in exams, most likely due to a reduction in medical procedures during the pandemic. Only in Luxemburg, CT and PET examinations increased despite a reduction in scanners. Conclusions. Considering the expected increasing demand for diagnostics due to the evolving needs of the population, proper governance and resource allocation are necessary requirements for cost-efficient health systems
Impact of COVID-19 on Timing of Hip-Fracture Surgeries: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of the Pre/Post-Quarantine Period in Northern Italy
To assess whether the imposition of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) national quarantine (March 10, 2020) resulted in a shift in the proportion of patients operated for hip fracture on the day of admission, the following day and two days after admission in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy
Which competences and what managerial training for the health professions
The process of passage to be e-profit and loss organization following the reform of the Italian health system, especially in a context of fiscal federalism and administered competition among the public and private producers, causes implications on the competences of whom develops his/her own professional
activity. The aim of the paper is to give some inputs for discussion about the training of manager: starting from the meaning of the word ?management? and using the model elaborated by Mintzberg and Simon with the purpose to identify who is involved in such training, trying to make explicit that the analysis of the organizational positions and the profile of the resource that will go to occupy it is a forced passage for building the training package and to make clear characteristics and contents of the training offer
Drivers involved in road traffic accidents in Piedmont Region: psychoactive substances consumption
Introduction. The role played by psychoactive substances in road safety has become object of increasing interest: these substances can reduce driving performance and increase accidents
risk. Aims of the study are to establish the dimension of the problem and to describe the characteristics of people involved in accidents under psychoactive substance effects.
Methods. Target population consists of people from 18 to 60 years old involved in accidents afferent in Emergency Rooms. Subjects were interviewed by surveyors and a urines was collected
for psychoactive substances screening.
Results. In 18.5% of people we found substance consumption. Cocaine was the most frequently detected substance (9.5%), then benzodiazepines (7.5%), methadone, morphine and marijuana
(THC) (3.5%). In 5.5% of subjects more then one substance was found. Considering only illegal substances detected, female have a higher risk to be consumers (OR = 1.36) and the young age (18-35 years) seems to be at higher prevalence and risk for substance use (OR = 1.86).
Discussion. Considering all psychoactive substances detected, clearly the problem about substances consumption and driving is not restricted to youngest but involves all age groups.
Conclusions. In order to decrease the number of accidents due to substance use, new prevention programmes able to involve also middle age groups should be planned
COVID-19 and regional differences in the timeliness of hip-fracture surgery: an interrupted time-series analysis
Background. It is of great importance to examine the impact of the healthcare reorganization adopted to confront the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of care provided to non-COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown (March 9, 2020) on the quality of care provided to patients with hip fracture (HF) in Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna, two large regions of northern Italy severely hit by the pandemic.Methods. We calculated the percentage of HF patients undergoing surgery within 2 days of hospital admission. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed on weekly data from December 11, 2019 to June 9, 2020 (approximate to 6 months), interrupting the series in the 2nd week of March. The same data observed the year before were included as a control time series with no "intervention"(lockdown) in the middle of the observation period.Results. Before the lockdown, 2-day surgery was 69.9% in Piedmont and 79.2% in Emilia-Romagna; after the lockdown, these proportions were equal to 69.8% (-0.1%) and 69.3% (-9.9%), respectively. While Piedmont did not experience any drop in the amount of surgery, Emilia-Romagna exhibited a significant decline at a weekly rate of -1.29% (95% CI [-1.71 to -0.88]). Divergent trend patterns in the two study regions reflect local differences in pandemic timing as well as in healthcare services capacity, management, and emergency preparedness
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