Reaching for equitable care: High levels of disability-related knowledge and cultural competence only get us so far

BackgroundAchieving equitable medical care for people with disabilities is a complex challenge with emphasis often placed on the need for improved physician knowledge and cultural competence. Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) is a specialty dedicated to maximizing patient function, where a focus on working with and learning from patients with complex disabilities informs physician training and patient care.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess barriers to equitable care in PM&R clinics through a structural checklist and semi-structured interviews with clinic staff and physicians.MethodsWe used qualitative analysis with a grounded theory approach to develop a unified explanation of how existing clinic processes and provider attitudes affect equitable access to medical care.ResultsWe found physicians comfortable with and respectful of patient differences who described leveraging unpaid time and creativity to navigate structural, resource, and awareness barriers. Staff and physicians described current barriers as negatively affecting quality of care, clinic efficiency, and, in some cases, patient and staff safety.ConclusionOur results suggest that high levels of physician disability-related knowledge and cultural competence may be insufficient to the challenge of achieving equitable care.     

Continuity of primary care and prenatal care adequacy among women with disabilities in Ontario: A population-based cohort study

BackgroundWomen with disabilities experience elevated risks for pregnancy complications and report barriers accessing prenatal care. Emerging evidence highlights the significant role primary care providers play in promoting preventive services like prenatal care.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between continuity of primary care (COC) and prenatal care adequacy among women with disabilities.MethodsWe conducted a population-based study using health administrative data in Ontario, Canada. The study population included 15- to 49-year-old women with physical (n = 106,555), sensory (n = 32,194), intellectual/developmental (n = 1515), and multiple (n = 6543) disabilities who had a singleton livebirth or stillbirth in 2003–2017 and ≥ 3 primary care visits < 2 years before conception. COC was measured using the Usual Provider of Care Index. Nominal logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for prenatal care adequacy, measured using the Revised-Graduated Prenatal Care Utilization Index, for women with low versus moderate/high COC, controlling for other social and medical characteristics.ResultsWomen with disabilities with low COC, versus those with moderate/high COC, had increased odds of no (aOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.29–1.56), inadequate (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.16–1.23), and intensive prenatal care (aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19–1.25) versus adequate. In additional analyses, women with low COC and no/inadequate prenatal care were the most socially disadvantaged among the cohort, and those with low COC and intensive prenatal care had the greatest medical need.ConclusionImproving primary care access for women with disabilities, particularly those experiencing social disadvantage, could lead to better prenatal care access.     

Outcomes following quadriceps tendon repair using transosseous tunnels versus suture anchors: A systematic review

IntroductionTwo major techniques are used to repair complete quadriceps tendon ruptures, transosseous tunnel (TT) and the suture anchor (SA). There are multiple studies comparing the biomechanical outcomes of repairs performed with TT or SA. Our purpose was to compare the clinical outcomes following quadriceps tendon repair using SA and TT fixation techniques.MethodsThree major search engines were used with predetermined keyword searches to perform a systematic review of literature. These studies were independently scanned by two reviewers using PRISMA criterion. All included studies had to include at least one of the following outcome measures: range of motion (ROM), Lysholm score, complications, and/or re-ruptures.ResultsUsing three major search engines, 1039 articles were identified. After removing duplicates and screening for inclusion, 49 articles were reviewed. Two independent reviewers searched the studies to meet the inclusion criteria, and eight studies were selected. These eight studies included 156 knees in the TT group and 54 knees in the SA group. The TT group had a significantly better ROM after QT repair (132.5° versus 127.0°, p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in Lysholm scores between the TT group (92.6) and SA group (91.0, p = 0.11). There were significantly more complications in SA groups (9.3% versus 1.3%, p = 0.013), but not a significant difference in re-rupture rate between those undergoing SA vs. TT repair (3.7% versus 0%, p = 0.065). The SA group had a significantly higher age at time of surgery (63.62 vs. 54.32)ConclusionThe current study suggests that, following quadriceps tendon rupture, there are no significant differences in functional outcome between TT and SA techniques. Those undergoing TT repair attained a statistically significantly greater final ROM but this difference may not be clinically relevant. There was a statistically significantly higher rate of post-operative complications using SA technique.     

Mental health improvements after elective spine surgery: a Canadian Spine Outcome Research Network (CSORN) study

BACKGROUND CONTEXTSpine patients have a higher rate of depression then the general population which may be caused in part by levels of pain and disability from their spinal disease.PURPOSEDetermination whether improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) resulting from successful spine surgery leads to improvements in mental health.STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGThe Canadian Spine Outcome Research Network prospective surgical outcome registry.OUTCOME MEASURESChange between preoperative and postoperative SF12 Mental Component Score (MCS). Secondary outcomes include European Quality of Life (EuroQoL) Healthstate, SF-12 Physical Component Score (PCS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Patient Health Questionaire-9 (PHQ9), and pain scales.METHODSThe Canadian Spine Outcome Research Network registry was queried for all patients receiving surgery for degenerative thoracolumbar spine disease. Exclusion criteria were trauma, tumor, infection, and previous spine surgery. SF12 Mental Component Scores (MCS) were compared between those with and without significant improvement in postoperative disability (ODI) and secondary measures. Multivariate analysis examined factors predictive of MCS improvement.RESULTSEighteen hospitals contributed 3222 eligible patients. Worse ODI, EuroQoL, PCS, back pain and leg pain correlated with worse MCS at all time points. Overall, patients had an improvement in MCS that occurred within 3 months of surgery and was still present 24 months after surgery. Patients exceeding Minimally Clinically Important Differences in ODI had the greatest improvements in MCS. Major depression prevalence decreased up to 48% following surgery, depending on spine diagnosis.CONCLUSIONSLarge scale, real world, registry data suggests that successful surgery for degenerative lumbar disease is associated with reduction in the prevalence of major depression regardless of the specific underlaying diagnosis. Worse baseline MCS was associated with worse baseline HRQOL and improved postoperatively with coincident improvement in disability, emphasizing that mental wellness is not a static state but may improve with well-planned spine surgery.     

What components are important for effective healthcare alliance governance? Findings from a modified Delphi study in New Zealand

Alliance governance is a form of governance developed in industry settings and more recently applied to healthcare. The core idea behind alliance governance is to involve the many stakeholders in the system to collaboratively develop a joint programme that promotes an integrated and whole of systems approach to care. Little is known about the model in healthcare, nor what those involved in an alliance should be focused upon. Using a modified Delphi method, this research presents a set of components that research participants agreed should underpin development of an effective alliance governance arrangement.These characteristics include a systems perspective—a truly shared governance protocol based on a shared vision and a common purpose; performance measurement—collecting and using real-time data that depicts the realities of an end-to-end system to establish better and more achievable goals based on alliance performance; a relational perspective to promote trust, respect and collaboration amongst alliance members, who historically have been competing for contracts and resources; structural changes that enable and promote a shared governance system; and, finally, equity and inclusion to ensure a diverse alliance which promotes diversity of ideas, and involvement of all stakeholders in the decision making process. This research is relevant to policymakers seeking to develop effective alliance-type arrangements as well as to those involved in the practice of alliance governance.     

The geographic distribution of un-immunized children in Ontario,Canada: Hotspot detection using Bayesian spatial analysis

BackgroundIn Ontario, Canada, little is currently known about the extent to which un-immunized children may cluster geographically. Our objectives were to: describe the geographic distribution of fully un-immunized children; identify geographic clusters (hotspots) of un-immunized children; and to characterize the contribution of spatial effects and covariates on hotspots, where found.MethodsOur analytic cohort consisted of Ontario students aged 7–17 years in the 2016–2017 school year. We defined students as un-immunized if they had zero doses of any vaccine and a non-medical exemption recorded in Ontario’s registry. We calculated unadjusted proportions of un-immunized students by Census Subdivision (CSD) and then used a sequential approach to identify hotspots starting first with hotspot identification at the CSD level and then probed identified hotspots further by Dissemination Area (DA) and including covariates. Hotspots were identified using the Besag-York-Mollie Bayesian spatial model and were defined as areas with >95% probability of having two times the proportion of un-immunized students, relative to the province overall.ResultsWe identified 15,208 (0.94%) un-immunized children within our cohort consisting of more than 1.61 million students. Unadjusted proportions of un-immunized students varied greatly by geography, ranging from 0% to 21.5% by CSD. We identified 16 hotspot CSDs which clustered in five distinct areas, all of which were located in southern Ontario. The contribution of covariates and spatial effects on the risk of having un-immunized students varied greatly across hotspot areas.ConclusionsAlthough the provincial proportion (0.94%) of un-immunized students is small, geographical clustering of such students is evident in Ontario and in some areas presents an important risk for future outbreaks. Further qualitative work within these hotspot areas would be a helpful next step to better characterize the factors associated with vaccine refusal in these communities.