Technical efficiency of healthcare systems in African countries: An application based on data envelopment analysis

AimThis study aimed to measure the healthcare system efficiency of 36 African countries and to compare efficiency levels between countries.MethodData envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to evaluate efficiency. The input variables employed within the scope of DEA consisted of the proportion of total health expenditures in the gross domestic product (HE); the number of physicians (PHY), nurses (NUR) and hospital beds (BN) per 1000 people; the unemployment rate (UN); and the Gini coefficient (Gini). The study's output variables were life expectancy at birth and 1/(infant mortality rate). After DEA, the variables affecting the performance of national healthcare systems were identified using a Tobit regression model.ResultsAccording to DEA results, 21 (58.33%) of 36 African healthcare systems were found to be efficient. Among the efficient countries, Senegal was the country most referenced for inefficient countries. According to the Tobit regression analysis results, the number of nurses per 1000 people and Gini coefficient variables statistically significantly affected the inefficiency of national healthcare systems.ConclusionThis study's results suggest that in order to achieve the same health outcomes, national healthcare systems need to use public and private health resources more effectively and efficiently. By assessing the efficiency of countries’ healthcare systems and health services through international comparison, effectiveness and efficiency can be ensured within these systems.     

Health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: Links to acceptance,coping strategies and disease severity

BackgroundPeople with multiple sclerosis (MS) report lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Improvements in quality of life can be made by identifying the factors that contribute to HRQoL in MS, which are both person specific and disease related.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to examine the mutual roles of acceptance, coping, and MS severity on HRQoL.Materials and methodsThis study included 382 patients with MS who completed the 29-item Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and Acceptance of Illness Scale. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect patient clinical and demographics data. General MS severity was determined using the Expanded Disability Status Scale.ResultsSix variables, acceptance of illness (β = ?0.24, p < 0.001), emotional coping strategy (β = 0.40, p < 0.001), avoidance coping strategy (β = ?0.19, p < 0.001), illness duration (β = ?0.18, p < 0.001), age at the time of the study (β = 0.14, p = 0.009) and problem coping strategy (β = ?0.09, p = 0.05), were found to be the significant correlates of HRQoL in MS. The model that included these variables explained 36% of variance in self-management in MS.ConclusionPsychological variables are more salient correlates of HRQoL in MS than the objective clinical variables, such as the severity or type of MS. Specifically, this study showed that MS patients who accept their illness and use more problem-solving and avoidance coping strategies and less emotional coping strategies assess their HRQoL highly.     

Risk of inappropriateness and efficiency assessment of hospitals

We evaluated with the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) 13 decision making units (DMU) at IDI -IRCCS for the years 2000 and 2001. Input variables were: cost for medical personnel, cost for non medical personnel and number of beds; output variables was the number of discharged patients weighted with DRG. Later in a second model we delete the cases considered to be at "high risk" to be inappropriate for treatment as inpatients. DEA instrument is confirmed useful in the efficiency evaluation for DMU at hospital level, ranking were different between the two models. The Health Direction can utilise the analysis to understand reasons of inefficiency and for incentive policy.     

Environmental factors and productivity on Dutch hospitals: a semi-parametric approach

This paper describes the efficiency of Dutch hospitals using the method of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). In particular the analysis focuses on explaining cost inefficiency measures due to each hospital’s operating environment. In previous works, the resulting DEA score is regressed on environmental factors via a Tobit approach. Previously, these approaches have been used (Simar and Wilson, J Prod Anal 7(1):63–80, 2000) but later these authors (Simar and Wilson 2007) demonstrated that bias is incurred since the efficiency score is a point estimate without a probability distribution around it that is required by the Tobit methodology. In this paper we use the Simar and Wilson bootstrapping techniques in order to obtain more efficient estimates of the environmental effects. It is shown that differences in estimated effects exist between the non-bootstrapped and bootstrapped models.     

Ownership and technical efficiency of hospitals: evidence from Ghana using data envelopment analysis

Background

In order to measure and analyse the technical efficiency of district hospitals in Ghana, the specific objectives of this study were to (a) estimate the relative technical and scale efficiency of government, mission, private and quasi-government district hospitals in Ghana in 2005; (b) estimate the magnitudes of output increases and/or input reductions that would have been required to make relatively inefficient hospitals more efficient; and (c) use Tobit regression analysis to estimate the impact of ownership on hospital efficiency.

Methods

In the first stage, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiency of 128 hospitals comprising of 73 government hospitals, 42 mission hospitals, 7 quasi-government hospitals and 6 private hospitals. In the second stage, the estimated DEA efficiency scores are regressed against hospital ownership variable using a Tobit model. This was a retrospective study.

Results

In our DEA analysis, using the variable returns to scale model, out of 128 district hospitals, 31 (24.0%) were 100% efficient, 25 (19.5%) were very close to being efficient with efficiency scores ranging from 70% to 99.9% and 71 (56.2%) had efficiency scores below 50%. The lowest-performing hospitals had efficiency scores ranging from 21% to 30%.Quasi-government hospitals had the highest mean efficiency score (83.9%) followed by public hospitals (70.4%), mission hospitals (68.6%) and private hospitals (55.8%). However, public hospitals also got the lowest mean technical efficiency scores (27.4%), implying they have some of the most inefficient hospitals.Regarding regional performance, Northern region hospitals had the highest mean efficiency score (83.0%) and Volta Region hospitals had the lowest mean score (43.0%).From our Tobit regression, we found out that while quasi-government ownership is positively associated with hospital technical efficiency, private ownership negatively affects hospital efficiency.

Conclusions

It would be prudent for policy-makers to examine the least efficient hospitals to correct widespread inefficiency. This would include reconsidering the number of hospitals and their distribution, improving efficiency and reducing duplication by closing or scaling down hospitals with efficiency scores below a certain threshold. For private hospitals with inefficiency related to large size, there is a need to break down such hospitals into manageable sizes.

     

Relationship Between Shift Intensity and Insomnia Among Hospital Nurses in Korea: A Cross-sectional Study

ObjectivesThis study explored the relationship between shift intensity and insomnia among hospital nurses.MethodsThe participants were 386 female hospital nurses who underwent a special health examination for night workers in 2015. The Korean Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), indices of shift work intensity, and other covariates such as amount of exercise, level of alcohol consumption, employment duration, and hours worked were extracted from the health examination data. The indices for shift intensity were (1) number of 3 consecutive night shifts and (2) number of short recovery periods after a previous shift, both assessed over the prior 3 months. Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for the aforementioned covariates was performed to evaluate the association of shift intensity with insomnia, defined as an ISI score of ≥8.ResultsThe nurses with insomnia tended to be younger (p=0.029), to have worked 3 consecutive night shifts more frequently (p<0.001), to have experienced a greater number of short recovery periods after the previous shift (p=0.021), and to have worked for more hours (p=0.006) than the nurses without insomnia. Among the other variables, no statistically significant differences between groups were observed. Experiences of 3 or more consecutive night shifts (odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 4.20) and 3 or more short recovery periods (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.08 to 3.73) were associated with increased odds of insomnia.ConclusionsThe results suggest that decreasing the shift intensity may reduce insomnia among hospital nurses working rotating shifts.     

Do physical activity and social cognitive theory variable scores differ across symptom cluster severity groups in multiple sclerosis?

BackgroundPersons with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience co-occurring symptoms termed “symptom clusters” that can be distinguished based on mild, moderate, or severe symptom severity termed “symptom cluster severity.” Physical activity (PA) may be an approach for improving co-occurring symptoms.ObjectiveTo examined if PA and social cognitive theory (SCT) variables differed by symptom cluster groups, and if associations between SCT variables and PA were moderated by symptom cluster groups.MethodsSecondary analysis of participants with MS (N = 205) enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Trend analyses were conducted to determine if device-measured and self-reported PA and SCT variables (i.e., social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goal setting, planning, and impediments) decreased with increased symptom cluster severity. Spearman rho rank-order correlations were conducted between PA measures and SCT variables within each symptom cluster group.ResultsLinear trend analyses indicated that self-reported PA declined with increased symptom cluster severity groups (F = 4.90,p = 0.03). Linear trend analyses indicated significant differences among symptom cluster severity groups in social support (F = 31.43,p = 0.001), exercise self-efficacy (F = 22.55,p = 0.001), barrier self-efficacy (F = 11.48,p = 0.001), outcome expectations (F = 6.98,p = 0.009), and impediments (F = 34.41,p = 0.001). There were differential associations of moderate magnitude in correlations, such that three SCT variables were associated with PA in the mild group (i.e., self-efficacy, goal setting and planning), two in the moderate group (i.e., social support and goal setting), and four in the severe group (i.e., self-efficacy, outcome expectations, planning, and social support).ConclusionsFurther research is warranted examining the use of SCT-based behavior change techniques for promoting PA and improving symptom clusters in persons with MS.     

Healthcare needs,experiences and treatment burden in primary care patients with multimorbidity: An evaluation of process of care from patients' perspectives

BackgroundPatients with multimorbidity often experience treatment burden as a result of fragmented, specialist‐driven healthcare. The ‘family doctor team'' is an emerging service model in China to address the increasing need for high‐quality routine primary care.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the extent to which treatment burden was associated with healthcare needs and patients'' experiences.MethodsMultisite surveys were conducted in primary care facilities in Guangdong province, southern China. Interviewer‐administered questionnaires were used to collect data from patients (N = 2160) who had ≥2 clinically diagnosed long‐term conditions (multimorbidity) and had ≥1 clinical encounter in the past 12 months since enrolment registration with the family doctor team. Patients'' experiences and treatment burden were measured using a previously validated Chinese version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) and the Treatment Burden Questionnaire, respectively.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 61.4 years, and slightly over half were females. Patients who had a family doctor team as the primary source of care reported significantly higher PCAT scores (mean difference 7.2 points, p < .001) and lower treatment burden scores (mean difference −6.4 points, p < .001) when compared to those who often bypassed primary care. Greater healthcare needs were significantly correlated with increased treatment burden (β‐coefficient 1.965, p < .001), whilst better patients'' experiences were associated with lower treatment burden (β‐coefficient −0.252, p < .001) after adjusting for confounders.ConclusionThe inverse association between patients'' experiences and treatment burden supports the importance of primary care in managing patients with multimorbidity.Patient ContributionPrimary care service users were involved in the instrument development and data collection.     

Cost-utility analysis of a national project to reduce hypertension in Israel

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare technical and scale efficiency of primary care centers from the two largest Greek providers, the National Health System (NHS) and the Social Security Foundation (IKA) and to determine if, and how, efficiency is affected by various exogenous factors such as catchment population and location.

Methods

The sample comprised of 194 units (103 NHS and 91 IKA). Efficiency was measured with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) using three inputs, -medical staff, nursing/paramedical staff, administrative/other staff- and two outputs, which were the aggregated numbers of scheduled/emergency patient visits and imaging/laboratory diagnostic tests. Facilities were categorized as small, medium and large (<15,000, 15,000–30,000 and >30,000 respectively) to reflect catchment population and as urban/semi-urban or remote/island to reflect location. In a second stage analysis, technical and scale efficiency scores were regressed against facility type (NHS or IKA), size and location using multivariate Tobit regression.

Results

Regarding technical efficiency, IKA performed better than the NHS (84.9% vs. 70.1%, Mann-Whitney P < 0.001), smaller units better than medium-sized and larger ones (84.2% vs. 72.4% vs. 74.3%, Kruskal-Wallis P < 0.01) and remote/island units better than urban centers (81.1% vs. 75.7%, Mann-Whitney P = 0.103). As for scale efficiency, IKA again outperformed the NHS (89.7% vs. 85.9%, Mann-Whitney P = 0.080), but results were reversed in respect to facility size and location. Specifically, larger units performed better (96.3% vs. 90.9% vs. 75.9%, Kruskal-Wallis P < 0.001), and urban units showed higher scale efficiency than remote ones (91.9% vs. 75.3%, Mann-Whitney P < 0.001). Interestingly 75% of facilities appeared to be functioning under increasing returns to scale. Within-group comparisons revealed significant efficiency differences between the two primary care providers. Tobit regression models showed that facility type, size and location were significant explanatory variables of technical and scale efficiency.

Conclusion

Variations appeared to exist in the productive performance of the NHS and IKA as the two main primary care providers in Greece. These variations reflect differences in primary care organization, economical incentives, financial constraints, sociodemographic and local peculiarities. In all technical efficiency comparisons, IKA facilities appeared to outperform NHS ones irrespective of facility size or location. In respect to scale efficiency, the results were to some extent inconclusive and observed differences were mostly insignificant, although again IKA appeared to perform better.     

Efficiency and quality of care in nursing homes: an Italian case study

This study investigates efficiency and quality of care in nursing homes. By means of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the efficiency of 40 nursing homes that deliver their services in the north-western area of the Lombardy Region was assessed over a 3-year period (2005–2007). Lombardy is a very peculiar setting, since it is the only Region in Italy where the healthcare industry is organised as a quasi-market, in which the public authority buys health and nursing services from independent providers—establishing a reimbursement system for this purpose. The analysis is conducted by generating bootstrapped DEA efficiency scores for each nursing home (stage one), then regressing those scores on explanatory variables (stage two). Our DEA model employed two input (i.e. costs for health and nursing services and costs for residential services) and three output variables (case mix, extra nursing hours and residential charges). In the second-stage analysis, Tobit regressions and the Kruskall–Wallis tests of hypothesis to the efficiency scores were applied to define what are the factors that affect efficiency: (a) the ownership (private nursing houses outperform their public counterparts); and (b) the capability to implement strategies for labour cost and nursing costs containment, since the efficiency heavily depends upon the alignment of the costs to the public reimbursement system. Lastly, even though the public institutions are less efficient than the private ones, the results suggest that public nursing homes are moving towards their private counterparts, and thus competition is benefiting efficiency.     

Genetic susceptibility factors for multiple chemical sensitivity revisited

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterised by adverse effects due to exposure to low levels of chemical substances. Various genes, especially genes of importance to the metabolism of xenobiotic compounds, have been associated with MCS, but findings are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic susceptibility factors for MCS and self-reported chemical sensitivity in a population sample. Ninety six MCS patients and 1,207 controls from a general population divided into four severity groups of chemical sensitivity were genotyped for variants in the genes encoding cytochrome P450 2D6, arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2, paraoxonase 1, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, and the cholecystokinin 2 receptor. No hypotheses were consistently confirmed. An apparent association between number of active cytochrome P450 2D6 alleles and MCS status was not statistically significant (OR=1.2, p=0.28). Fast arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 metaboliser status was associated with severity of chemical sensitivity only in the most severely affected group in the population sample (OR=3.1, p=0.04). The cholecystokinin 2 receptor allele with 21 CT repeats was associated with MCS when compared in post hoc analyses with all individuals from the population sample (p=0.02). Genetic variants in paraoxonase 1 and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase were not associated with MSC or with self-reported chemical sensitivity in the population sample. Our results suggest that variants in the genes examined are of less importance to MCS than previously reported or that gene-environment interactions or significant degrees of genetic heterogeneity in MCS underlie inconsistent findings in the literature.     

Factors associated with disability in a sample of adults with arthritis

BackgroundArthritis is the most common cause of disability among US adults. Few studies have comprehensively examined factors associated with disability in this population.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between a number of disease and non-disease related factors and disability in sample of adults with self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.MethodsParticipants (n = 396) taking part in a randomized controlled trial of arthritis self-management completed a comprehensive survey assessing a number of demographic, arthritis-specific, health-related, behavioral, and psychological variables at baseline. Disability, as measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), was also measured. Hierarchical regression models examined the independent associations between blocks of variables and disability.ResultsDemographic variables (R² = 0.13), arthritis-specific demographics (i.e., type, medication use; ΔR² = 0.16), physical health-related variables (ΔR² = 0.06), arthritis-specific symptoms (ΔR² = 0.12), health behaviors (ΔR² = 0.00), and psychological variables (ΔR² = 0.03) explained 50% of the variance in disability score (R² = 0.50). With the exception of health behaviors, the addition of each block of variables significantly improved the model, explaining additional variance in HAQ scores (p < 0.0001). In the final model, older age, less than a high school education, rheumatoid arthritis, greater arthritis duration, taking steroids, taking narcotics, greater pain, greater stiffness, greater depressive symptoms, and lower arthritis self-efficacy were associated with greater disability whereas male gender, fibromyalgia, and excellent/very good health were associated with less disability.ConclusionsA number of disease and non-disease related variables were associated with disability. These findings suggest that disability in adults with arthritis may be a complicated phenomenon; such complexity may make decreasing disability in this population challenging.     

Regional differences in the incidence of inpatients with pressure ulcers in Germany

Aims

The population-based incidence of pressure ulcers shows large differences between the 16 federal states in Germany. The present study analyses the association between state-specific pressure ulcer incidence and selected structural variables.

Subjects and methods

Based on the Diagnosis Related Groups used for diagnosis-specific hospital billing, the population-based incidence of pressure ulcers as primary and secondary diagnosis was calculated for each German state. Data were also stratified for grade (all pressure ulcers vs. grades 3 and 4 only). Ten variables derived from data collected by the German Federal Statistical Office were used to describe of state-specific healthcare structures.

Results

Significant correlations were seen between the state-specific incidence of pressure ulcers as primary and secondary diagnosis per 100,000 and the number of full-time employees in nursing homes per 100,000 (p?<?0.1; correlation factor of –0.43 and –0.44, respectively), the number of patients per doctor in hospitals (p?<?0.05; correlation factor 0.5 and 0.6, respectively) and for the state-specific incidence of pressure ulcers as primary diagnosis and the number of deaths per 100,000 (p?<?0.05; correlation factor of 0.7).

Conclusion

Differences in the population-based incidence of pressure ulcers between the 16 German states seem to be influenced by structural differences in patient care. Further examination of these associations could lead to important political approaches for the reduction of pressure ulcers in Germany.     

Technical efficiency of nursing homes: do five-star quality ratings matter?

This study investigates associations between five-star quality ratings and technical efficiency of nursing homes. The sample consists of a balanced panel of 338 nursing homes in California from 2009 through 2013 and uses two-stage data envelopment (DEA) analysis. The first-stage applies an input oriented variable returns to scale DEA analysis. The second-stage uses a left censored random-effect Tobit regression model. The five-star quality ratings i.e., health inspections, quality measures, staffing available on the Nursing Home Compare website are divided into two categories: outcome and structure form of quality. Results show that quality measures ratings and health inspection ratings, used as outcome form of quality, are not associated with mean technical efficiency. These quality ratings, however, do affect the technical efficiency of a particular nursing home and hence alter the ranking of nursing homes based on efficiency scores. Staffing rating, categorized as a structural form of quality, is negatively associated with mean technical efficiency. These findings show that quality dimensions are associated with technical efficiency in different ways, suggesting that multiple dimensions of quality should be included in the efficiency analysis of nursing homes. They also suggest that patient care can be enhanced through investing more in improving care delivery rather than simply raising the number of staff per resident.     

The Mediating and Moderating Effects of Physical Fitness of the Relationship between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Health-Related Quality of Life in University Students

The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in university students and to assess whether this relationship is mediated or moderated by cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and handgrip strength. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 310 first-year Spanish university students. Adherence to the MD was evaluated with the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), and the HRQoL was evaluated with the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire. CRF was assessed by the 20 m shuttle run test, and the handgrip strength was determined by dynamometry. ANCOVA models showed that participants with higher CRF and handgrip strength levels had significantly higher scores in the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-12 and in the MEDAS questionnaire than those with medium and low scores (p < 0.050). Additionally, the ANCOVA models showed that students with good adherence to the MD showed higher scores in the MCS of HRQoL than those with low adherence (p = 0.044, ES = 0.013), but these results did not appear for the PCS of HRQoL (p = 0.728, ES = 0.001). In the mediation analysis, it was found that CRF and handgrip strength acted as full mediators of the relationship between adherence to the MD and the MCS of HRQoL. In the moderation analysis, it was evidenced that CRF and handgrip strength did not act as moderators in the relationship between adherence to the MD and the MCS of HRQoL. In conclusion, adherence to the MD does not seem to have a direct effect on the MCS of HRQoL because this association seems to be fully mediated by CRF and handgrip strength.     

Impact of telemonitoring on older adults health-related quality of life: the Tele-ERA study

Purpose

Telemonitoring is being increasingly used for chronic disease monitoring. While the primary aim of telemonitoring is to improve chronic disease management and decrease hospitalizations, the potential impact on patient’s health-related quality of life may be an additional benefit.

Methods

Two hundred and five patients aged 60 years and older with multiple medical conditions were enrolled in a one-year randomized controlled trial of daily home telemonitoring. Health-related quality of life was measured with the 12-Item Short-Form at the beginning and at the completion of the study. Per protocol analysis of the 166 patients responding to the follow-up survey was performed.

Results

Among the 166 responders, there were no significant differences at baseline in the physical component summary (PCS) scores (p value = 0.32), nor the mental component summary (MCS) scores (p value = 0.12) between the telemonitored group and the usual care group. There was also no difference in the 12-month PCS scores (p value = 0.39) or MCS scores (p value = 0.10) between groups. There was no difference in the change from baseline to 12-month MCS scores between groups (p value = 0.89); however, there was a significant difference in the baseline to 12-month change of PCS scores between groups, with the telemonitored group having a greater decrease in PCS scores (?4.3 ± 9.3), compared to the usual care group (?1.2 ± 8.5) over the course of the study (p value = 0.03).

Conclusion

Home telemonitoring in older adults with multiple comorbidities does not significantly improve self-perception of mental well-being (as measured by MCS scores) and may worsen self-perception of physical health (as measured by PCS scores).     

Dietary-Derived Essential Nutrients and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Previous studies have suggested a close but inconsistent relationship between essential nutrients and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and whether this association is causal remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the potential causal relation between essential nutrients (essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, essential minerals, and essential vitamins) and the risk of ALS using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Large-scale European-based genome-wide association studies’ (GWASs) summary data related to ALS (assembling 27,205 ALS patients and 110,881 controls) and essential nutrient concentrations were separately obtained. MR analysis was performed using the inverse variance–weighted (IVW) method, and sensitivity analysis was conducted by the weighted median method, simple median method, MR–Egger method and MR–PRESSO method. We found a causal association between genetically predicted linoleic acid (LA) and the risk of ALS (OR: 1.066; 95% CI: 1.011–1.125; p = 0.019). An inverse association with ALS risk was noted for vitamin D (OR: 0.899; 95% CI: 0.819–0.987; p = 0.025) and for vitamin E (OR: 0.461; 95% CI: 0.340–0.626; p = 6.25 × 10⁻⁷). The sensitivity analyses illustrated similar trends. No causal effect was observed between essential amino acids and minerals on ALS. Our study profiled the effects of diet-derived circulating nutrients on the risk of ALS and demonstrated that vitamin D and vitamin E are protective against the risk of ALS, and LA is a suggested risk factor for ALS.