State Level Point-of-Sale Policy Priority as a Result of the FSPTCA

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA) give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unprecedented power to regulate tobacco products. One of the most significant provisions of the law allows state and local governments to adopt and enforce tobacco control legislation restricting the time, place, and manner (but not the content) of tobacco advertising. However, there is still reluctance among states and localities for mass adoption of laws due to challenges associated with legal feasibility and lack of U.S.-based evidence in effectiveness. The Center for Public Health Systems Science conducted interviews with key tobacco control contacts in 48 states at two time points (2012 and 2014) since the passage of the FSPTCA to assess the influence of the law on point-of-sale policy development in their state tobacco programs. Logistic regression results show that point-of-sale policy importance is growing post-FSPTCA, and that key influencers of this importance are states'' tobacco control histories and environments, including that related to excise taxes and smoke free air policies. The adoption of smokefree and tax policies has become commonplace across the U.S., and the quality and extent of these laws and prevailing political will increasingly impact the ability of states to work in emerging tobacco control policy areas including those directed at the point of sale.     

Input–output analysis on the economic impact of medical care in Japan

Objectives

Since the Cabinet’s decision concerning the Basic Policies 2005, the Japanese government has implemented specific measures to suppress increases in national medical care expenditure. However, we believe that the economic significance of medical care should be quantified in terms of its economic impact on national medical care expenditure. No one has examined the economic impact of all medical institutions in Japan using data from a statement of profits and losses. We used an input–output analysis to quantitatively estimate economic impact of medical care and examined its estimation range with a probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

Methods

To estimate the economic impact and economic impact multipliers of all medical institutions in Japan, an input–output analysis model was developed using an input–output table, statement of profits and losses, margin rates, employee income rates, consumption propensity and an equilibrium output model. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted using a Monte Carlo simulation.

Results

Economic impact of medical care in all medical institutions was ¥72,107.4 billion ($661.5 billion). This impact yielded a 2.78-fold return of medical care expenditure with a 95 % confidence interval ranging from 2.74 to 2.90.

Conclusion

Economic impact of medical care in Japan was two to three times the medical care expenditure (per unit). Production inducement of medical care is comparable to other industrial sectors that are highly influential toward the economy. The contribution to medical care should be evaluated more explicitly in national medical care expenditure policies.     

Quality of primary health care in China: an analysis of data from a nationwide longitudinal survey

Background

China has made remarkable efforts and achievements since its health reform in 2009, yet there are substantial knowledge gaps in the quality of primary health care (PHC) in China. We aimed to assess the quality of PHC in China by analysing hospital admission rates among diabetics, a frequently used quality indicator for PHC.

Prevention of hypertension in patients with prehypertension in the rural areas of China: a community-based quasi-experiment

Background

People with prehypertension are highly likely to develop hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modifications may prevent hypertension in patients with prehypertension, but evidence remains scarce in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate whether a community-based intervention could prevent hypertension through lifestyle modifications in people with prehypertension in the rural areas of China.

秦皇岛港务集团艾滋病健康教育政策评估

目的开展艾滋病健康教育的政策设计和实施评估,探索工作场所艾滋病健康教育政策的研究方法。方法参照国内外关于工作场所艾滋病健康教育的5项主要政策要求,对秦皇岛港务局现有政策及其执行情况进行政策关键点定性评价。同时,对秦皇岛港务集团职工进行随机抽样,共抽得2046人,用问卷进行有关态度、知识和行为等定量调查。结果①参照政策的30个政策点有21个被列入了《2002-2005年秦皇岛港务集团遏制与防治艾滋病实施方案》,占70%;列入方案的政策点已全部实施;从实施效果看,较好、一般和较差的分别占已实施政策点的24%、66%和10%。②职工们对组织宣传、教育活动、允许艾滋病感染者和病人继续工作,进行艾滋病个人咨询等方面态度积极。③领导干部和其他职工的艾滋病基本知识得分分别为85.9和82.7。结论秦皇岛港务集团的艾滋病健康教育政策实施效果良好,但仍需要继续完善政策设计;该企业职工大部分积极支持艾滋病健康教育政策,可是在态度、知识和技能方面的政策需求差异性仍需探讨;职工们还存在一些对艾滋病基本知识误解的情况,需要在健康教育中重点加强。     

Developing a Framework for Pandemic COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation: a Modified Delphi Consensus Study in Korea

BackgroundThis study presents a framework for determining the allocation and distribution of the limited amount of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).MethodsAfter analyzing the pandemic strategies of the major organizations and countries and with a literature review conducted by a core panel, a modified Delphi survey was administered to 13 experts in the fields of vaccination, infectious disease, and public health in the Republic of Korea. The following topics were discussed: 1) identifying the objectives of the vaccination strategy, 2) identifying allocation criteria, and 3) establishing a step-by-step vaccination framework and prioritization strategy based on the allocation criteria. Two rounds of surveys were conducted for each topic, with a structured questionnaire provided via e-mail in the first round. After analyzing the responses, a meeting with the experts was held to obtain consensus on how to prioritize the population groups.ResultsThe first objective of the vaccination strategy was maintenance of the integrity of the healthcare system and critical infrastructure, followed by reduction of morbidity and mortality and reduction of community transmission. In the initial phase, older adult residents in care homes, high-risk health and social care workers, and personal support workers who work in direct contact with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients would be prioritized. Expansion of vaccine supply would allow immunization of older adults not included in phase 1, followed by healthcare workers not previously included and individuals with comorbidities. Further widespread vaccine supply would ensure availability to the extended adult age groups (50–64 years old), critical workers outside the health sector, residents who cannot socially distance, and, eventually, the remaining populations.ConclusionThis survey provides the much needed insight into the decision-making process for vaccine allocation at the national level. However, flexibility in adapting to strategies will be essential, as new information is constantly emerging.     

医院干细胞临床研究医生培训与政策认知调查

ObjectiveTo investigate clinical stem cell research doctors to know their profe ssional training situation, cognition of related policy and satisfaction. MethodsSix grade A hospitals including 23 departments and 128 doctors were investigated by using self made questionnaire. ResultsOf 128 doctors, 53.1% did not participate in the stem cell technology professional training while 27.3% of them were familiar with stem cell management policies and regulations. Age, title, education, hospital, department, years of working in clinical stem cell research, whether participation in training, whether trained in the organization by their hospitals were the influence factors. 32.0% of doctors were satisfied with the current stem cell policy. ConclusionHospitals should encourage doctors to participate in stem cell professional training to increase their professional technology. Hospitals need to organize stem cell policy lectures, propagate the national stem cell policy, standardize physician’s behavior of stem cell clinical trials, and consider doctors’ advice and feedback as reference for relevant policy.     

Determinants of and changes in catastrophic health expenditure in the occupied Palestinian territory: an analysis of ten rounds of the Palestinian Households Expenditure and Consumptions Survey (1996–2011)

Background

Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) is measured to assess the financial protection from the risk of health-related conditions, which is considered a principle performance goal of any health system. The incidence and intensity of CHE in the occupied Palestinian territory between 1998 and 2007 was assessed in previous research; however, no research has assessed the occurrence of CHE in different population groups in the occupied Palestinian territory. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in the occurrence of CHE in different groups of Palestinians from 1996 to 2011, which was a period of increasing political turmoil, transformation of the national health system, and economic hardship faced by the population.