Optimizing access and configuration of trauma centre care in New South Wales

IntroductionGetting the right patient, to the right place, at the right time is dependent on a multitude of modifiable and non-modifiable factors. One potentially modifiable factor is the number and location of trauma centres (TC). Overabundance of TC dilutes volumes and could be associated with worse outcomes. We describe a methodology that evaluates trauma system reconfiguration without reductions in potential access to care. We used the mature trauma system of New South Wales (NSW) as a model given the perceived overabundance of urban major trauma centres (MTC).MethodsWe first evaluated potential access to TC care via ground and air transport through the use of geographic information systems (GIS) network analysis. Potential access was defined as the proportion of the population living within 60-min transport time from a potential scene of injury to a TC by ground or rotary-wing aircraft. Sensitivity analyses were carried out in order to account for potential pre-hospital interventions and/or transport delays; travel times of 15-, 30-, 45-, 60-, and 90-min were also analyzed. We then evaluated if the current configuration of the system (number of urban MTS in the Sydney basin) could be optimized without reductions in potential access to care using two GIS methodologies: location-allocation and individual removal of MTC.Results86% of the NSW population has potential access to a TC within 60 min ground travel time; potential access improves to 99% with rotary-wing transport. The 1% of the population without potential TC access lives in 48% of the land area (>384,000km2). Utilizing two different methodologies we identified that there was no change in potential access by ground transport after removing 1 or 2 MTC in the Sydney basin at the 30-, 45-, and 60-min transport times. However, 0.02% and 0.5% of the population would not have potential access to MTC care at 15 min after removing one and two MTC respectively.DiscussionRedistribution of the number of MTC in the Sydney basin could be achieved without a significant impact on potential access to care. Our approach can be utilized as an initial tool to evaluate a trauma system where overabundance of coverage is present.     

The geographic harmonisation of Scotland's small area census data, 1981 to 2011

Previous research in Scotland used a merging approach to combine census boundary data for geographies specific to 1981, 1991 and 2001 to create Consistent Areas Through Time (CATTs) for the analysis of health and social data for small areas. In this paper, we adopt the same methodology to integrate the 2011 Scottish Output Areas to the CATTs. First, we overlaid the 2001 Output Areas upon the 2011 Output Areas to create SUPER OAs, which were then combined with SUPER EDs, which represented a consistent small area geography for 1981 and 1991. This resulted in 8,548 CATTs providing a consistent geography for the 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 Censuses in Scotland. We demonstrate the utility of the CATTs by exploring the correlations between deprivation, the proportion of the population who were permanently sick and those with degree qualifications, across the 4 censuses, a research angle impossible without consistent geographies. We have provided a resource that enables users to deepen their understanding of small area social changes in Scotland between the 1981 and 2011 Censuses.     

Pro-equity immunization and health systems strengthening strategies in select Gavi-supported countries

BackgroundAchieving universal immunization coverage and reaching every child with life-saving vaccines will require the implementation of pro-equity immunization strategies, especially in poorer countries. Gavi-supported countries continue to implement and report strategies that aim to address implementation challenges and improve equity. This paper summarizes the first mapping of these strategies from country reports.MethodsThirteen Gavi-supported countries were purposively selected with emphasis on Gavi’s priority countries. Following a scoping of different documents submitted to Gavi by countries, 47 Gavi Joint Appraisals (JAs) for the period 2016–2019 from the 13 selected countries were included in the mapping. We used a consolidated framework synthesized from 16 different equity and health systems frameworks, which incorporated UNICEF’s coverage and equity assessment approach – an adaptation of the Tanahashi model. Using search terms, the mapping was conducted using a combination of manual search and the MAXQDA qualitative analysis tool. Pro-equity strategies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and compiled in an Excel database, and then populated on a tableau visualization dashboard.ResultsIn total, 258 pro-equity strategies were implemented by the 13 sampled Gavi-supported countries between 2016 and 2019. The framework determinants of social norms, utilization, and management and coordination accounted for more than three-quarters of all pro-equity strategies implemented in these countries. The median number of strategies reported per country was 17. Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Uganda reported the highest number of strategies that we considered as pro-equity.ConclusionFindings from this mapping can be useful in addressing equity gaps, reaching partially immunized, and ‘zero-dose’ vaccinated children, and valuable resource for countries planning to implement pro-equity strategies, especially as immunization stakeholders reimagine immunization delivery in light of COVID-19, and as Gavi finalizes its fifth organizational strategy. Future efforts should seek to identify pro-equity strategies being implemented across additional countries, and to assess the extent to which these strategies have improved immunization coverage and equity.     

2004－2016年我国结核病流行的时空特征分析

目的 分析2004-2016年我国结核病登记病例的时空分布特征,探测聚集区域,为结核病防控提供理论依据。方法 利用ArcGIS 10.0软件作为数据管理和呈现的平台,建立我国2004-2016年结核病空间分析数据库,对结核病疫情进行空间自相关分析,采用SaTScan 9.6软件进行时空扫描分析。结果 2004-2016年全国共登记结核病病例13 157 794例,全国年均登记率为75.90/10万(27.95/10万~180.82/10万)。全局空间自相关结果显示结核病发病呈聚集性分布,局部Moran''s I自相关分析结果表明,新疆、西藏、贵州、广西和海南(省、自治区)为高-高聚集区域,北京、河北、天津、山东、江苏、上海(省、直辖市)为低-低聚集区域;局部G统计量热点分析结果显示,全国结核病疫情存在15个"热点"区域,其中3个"正热点"区域分别为新疆、西藏和海南(省、自治区), 12个"负热点"区域分别为北京、天津、辽宁、内蒙古、河北、山东、江苏、安徽、上海、山西、河南和吉林(省、自治区、直辖市)。利用SaTScan 9.6软件进行分阶段时空扫描分析,3个阶段共探测出12个聚集区域,每个聚集区域差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论 2004-2016年我国结核病疫情呈现逐年下降的趋势,各省(自治区、直辖市)的年均登记率并非随机分布,呈明显的空间聚集性,分阶段时空扫描聚集区域逐渐减少,结核病防治工作取得一定进展,但高风险地区仍持续存在,需重点关注并采取针对性防控措施。     

National and subnational estimates of coverage and travel time to emergency obstetric care in Afghanistan: Modeling of spatial accessibility

In Afghanistan, the risk of maternal death is among the highest in the world, with wide variation across the country. One explanation may be wide geographic disparities in access and use of maternal health care services. This study describes the spatial distribution of public facilities providing maternal health care in Afghanistan, specifically emergency obstetric care (EmOC), and the differences in travel time estimates using different transportation modes from 2010 to 2015 at the national and subnational levels. We conducted mapping and spatial analyses to measure the proportion of pregnant women able to access any EmOC health facility within 2 h by foot, animal, motor vehicle and a combination of transport modes. In 2015, adequate coverage of active public health facilities within 2 h of travel time was 36.6% by foot and 71.2% by a combination of transport modes. We found an 8.3% and 63.2% increase in access to EmOC facilities within 2 h of travel time by a combination of transport modes and by foot only, respectively, by 2015. Access to a combination of transportation options such as motor vehicles and animals may benefit pregnant women in reaching health facilities efficiently. Afghanistan made impressive gains in maternal healthcare access; despite these improvements, large disparities remain in geographic access by province and overall access to facilities is still poor.     

2008-2017年全国肺结核发病的时空分布特征分析

目的 探讨2008 -2017年我国肺结核发病的流行趋势及时空分布特征，为探索我国结核病发病高危区域，合理制定疾病防控策略和措施提供理论依据。方法 收集2008-2017年全国31个省份（直辖市、自治区）报告的肺结核发病资料，结合中国矢量化省界电子地图，应用空间自相关和时空扫描分析等方法，研究肺结核病的时空分布特征。结果 2008-2017年我国肺结核发病率总体呈逐年下降趋势，肺结核发病分布存在着明显的全局空间正相关性（Moran’s I>0, P<0.05），西部地区高于东部地区，其中新疆、西藏、青海等中西部地区为高-高聚集模式地区（P<0.05），北京、江苏和河北为低-低聚集模式地区（P<0.05）。结论 从全国范围来看，我国肺结核发病存在着明显的空间聚集性，应针对近年来疾病出现高发的中西部地区，适当增加结核病防控方面的卫生资源配置和健康教育宣传力度，综合制定区域性结核病防控策略。     

Racial and geographic disparities with gastrostomy tube placement in dementia and parkinsonian disorders

IntroductionMany patients with advanced dementia and Parkinson's disease and related disorders (PDRD) are receiving gastrostomy tube (GT) placement annually, despite its lack of proven benefit for preventing aspiration, enhancing nutrition, or prolonging survival. Given clinical practice variability in the care of people with neurodegenerative disorders, we sought to examine racial and geographic disparities in GT placement for these populations in the United States.MethodData were extracted from a publicly-available national database using diagnostic and procedural codes from 2006 to 2010. GT placement rates and odds ratios were calculated for two groups: PDRD and non-parkinsonian dementia (NPD).ResultsIn the PDRD group, odds of GT placement were higher among patients coded as Black (OR 1.69, CI 0.80–3.56, p = 0.17) and Asian (OR 2.17, CI 0.70–6.78, p = 0.18) than Whites; although these tendencies did not reach statistical significance. In the NPD group, GT placement among Black patients was significantly more likely (OR 2.88, CI 1.90–4.36, p < 0.001) than their white counterparts, while Asian patients were significantly less likely (OR 0.12, CI 0.02–0.91, p = 0.04). Compared to the Northeast region, there were significantly lower odds of GT placement in the Midwest region (OR 0.37, CI 0.24–0.58, p < 0.001) in the NPD group only. No difference in odds was observed between the sexes in both groups.ConclusionThis study showed geographic and racial disparities in GT placement among PDRD and NPD patients. Further studies should aim to clarify best practices for GT placement in PDRD and causes of practice differences within and between PDRD and NPD groups.