Gini系数和泰尔指数在山东省妇幼保健卫生人力资源配置公平性中的应用研究

目的探讨山东省妇幼保健机构卫生人力资源配置公平性,为妇幼保健人员的合理配置提供决策依据。方法对山东省2015-2017年妇幼保健机构卫生人力资源现况开展问卷调查。综合运用卫生资源密度指数指标(HRDI)、基尼系数及泰尔指数等方法,分别从人口、地理两个维度分析卫生人力资源配置的公平性。结果2015-2017年,山东省妇幼保健机构卫生人力总量呈逐年上升趋势。各地市相比,3年间HRDI最高的均为枣庄市,最低的为滨州市,两市相差近6倍。东营市、滨州市和菏泽市的HRDI远低于全省平均水平。基于人口维度,山东省妇幼保健人力资源基尼系数3年间均维持在0.20左右。东部和西部地区的基尼系数均<0.20,中部地区的基尼系数0.20~0.30。泰尔指数组内差异贡献率均高于80%。基于地理面积维度,基尼系数3年间均维持在0.25左右,西部地区的基尼系数均<0.20,东、中部地区的基尼系数0.20~0.30。泰尔指数组内差异贡献率均高于90%。结论山东省妇幼保健机构卫生人力配置公平性总体较好,人口公平性优于地理面积公平性。在下一步配置中在考虑人口因素的同时,要兼顾地理面积因素。     

Mapping variability in allocation of Long-Term Care funds across payer agencies in OECD countries

IntroductionLong-term care (LTC) is organized in a fragmented manner. Payer agencies (PA) receive LTC funds from the agency collecting funds, and commission services. Yet, distributional equity (DE) across PAs, a precondition to geographical equity of access to LTC, has received limited attention. We conceptualize that LTC systems promote DE when they are designed to set eligibility criteria nationally (vs. locally); and to distribute funds among PAs based on needs-formula (vs. past-budgets or government decisions).ObjectivesThis cross-country study highlights to what extent different LTC systems are designed to promote DE across PAs, and the parameters used in allocation formulae.MethodsQualitative data were collected through a questionnaire filled by experts from 17 OECD countries.Results11 out of 25 LTC systems analyzed, fully meet DE as we defined. 5 systems which give high autonomy to PAs have designs with low levels of DE; while nine systems partially promote DE. Allocation formulae vary in their complexity as some systems use simple demographic parameters while others apply socio-economic status, disability, and LTC cost variations.Discussion and conclusionsA minority of LTC systems fully meet DE, which is only one of the criteria in allocation of LTC resources. Some systems prefer local priority-setting and governance over DE. Countries that value DE should harmonize the eligibility criteria at the national level and allocate funds according to needs across regions.     

Who had access to doctors before and after new universal capitated subsidies in New Zealand?

In 2002, the New Zealand government introduced universal capitated subsidies for general practitioner consultations amid a broader programme of reform intended to reduce inequities in access and encourage more preventive healthcare visits. While consultation numbers increased in the short run, the issue of cost barriers to access has once more garnered significant policy attention, with many commentators concerned that the funding necessary to maintain low fees has not kept up with cost pressures. A longer-term assessment is useful in understanding the relationship between evolving policy conditions and service use.This article explores how the distribution of access to GPs changed in the short and long run using New Zealand Health Survey data from 2002/03 to 2015/16. I find that the capitation subsidies were associated with improved access for indigenous Māori and more preventive visits as intended by 2006/07. However, from 2006/07 onward patients with the greatest health need began reporting fewer and less frequent doctors’ visits per annum. I discuss potential explanations, focussing on the role of capitation subsidies and the successor price-capping scheme. This research contributes evidence to international scholarship on the long-term factors necessary for universal capitated subsidisation to sustainably reduce access inequities, with attention to local nuance.     

The relevance of work-related learning for vulnerable groups. Dutch case study of a Health Impact Assessment with equity focus

IntroductionLearning is essential for sustainable employability. However, various factors make work-related learning more difficult for certain groups of workers, who are consequently at a disadvantage in the labour market. In the long term, that in turn can have adverse health implications and can make those groups vulnerable. With a view to encouraging workers to continue learning, the Netherlands has a policy on work-related learning, which forms part of the ‘Vitality Package’.AimA Health Impact Assessment with equity focus (HIAef) was undertaken to determine whether the policy on work-related learning affected certain groups of workers and their health in different ways, and whether the differences were avoidable.MethodsThe HIAef method involved the standard phases: screening, scoping, appraisal and recommendations. Equity was the core principle in this method. Data were collected by means of both literature searches (e.g. Scopus, Medline) and interviews with experts and stakeholders (e.g. expertise regarding work, training and/or health).ResultsThe HIAef identified the following groups as potentially vulnerable in the field of work-related learning: the chronically sick, older people, less educated people, flexi-workers/the self-employed and lay carers (e.g. thresholds to learning). Published literature indicates that work-related learning may have a positive influence on health through (work-related) factors such as pay, employability, longer employment rate and training-participation. According to experts and stakeholders, work-related learning policy could be adapted to take more account of vulnerable groups through alignment with their particular needs, such as early support, informal learning and e-learning.ConclusionWith a view to reducing avoidable inequalities in work-related learning, it is recommended that early, low-threshold, accessible opportunities are made available to identified vulnerable groups. Making such opportunities available may have a positive effect on (continued) participation in the labour market and thus on the health of the relevant groups.     

Evaluación participativa del territorio con enfoque de equidad: adaptación y validación de la Place Standard al contexto español

ObjectiveTranslation and cross-cultural adaptation to the Spanish context of the Place Standard tool to undertake participatory evaluations in place-based communities.MethodA back-translation method was used to obtain an adapted version of the original Place Standard tool. The translated version was reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee of experts and validated using the Delphi method.ResultsThe final version of the adapted Place Standards tool (Entornos de Vida in Spanish) consists of 14 dimensions and 99 items. 21% of the items presented semantic difficulties during the translation. Total consensus through the Delphi panel was reached on 72% of the items. The analysis resulted in changes to the wording, and organization of the items, and the inclusion of new or modified questions to reflect the characteristics of the Spanish context.ConclusionsThe validation of the Entornos de Vida tool will enable the evaluation of place-based communities characteristics/physical and socio-economic contexts in a participatory and equitable manner that focuses on social determinants of health. Its application in scenarios that take into account processes of local health action will support the practice of health promotion and equity, and centre the attention and action on the physical and socio-economic contexts with the aim to learn how places and municipal policies can affect health and well-being.     

Accessibilité, politiques inclusives et droit à l’éducation : considérations conceptuelles et méthodologiques

The right to education promoted by the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons aims at fighting against discriminations persons with disabilities face in this matter. Identifying existing discriminations require however reliable data allowing for analyzing education systems’ ability to provide Special Educational Needs students with equal opportunities in terms of access, success, prospects and affiliation. This article describes the conceptual framework developed to identify indicators required to monitor the implementation of right to education in the European Union building upon an OECD research made on the transition to higher education and to employment of SEN students.     

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.     

In-situ at a distance? challenges and opportunities for health and place research methods in a post-COVID-19 world

In-situ methodologies, including go-along and photo-elicited interviews, are ideal for harnessing people's lived experiences of place and their meanings for health and health equity. Their immersive nature means that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their use. Physical distancing measures combined to anxiety over the sharing of physical space have created ethical and practical challenges to the conduct of in-person in-situ methodologies. However, in-situ methodologies are precisely needed to gain deeper understandings of people's changing relationships to place post-COVID-19. In this commentary we discuss emerging challenges, highlight questions researchers should ask before engaging in these methods in the future, and explore adaptations and alternatives to traditional in-person in-situ methodologies.