Widening or narrowing inequalities? The equity implications of digital tools to support COVID‐19 contact tracing: A qualitative study

BackgroundAs digital tools are increasingly used to support COVID‐19 contact tracing, the equity implications must be considered. As part of a study to understand the public''s views of digital contact tracing tools developed for the national ‘Test and Protect’ programme in Scotland, we aimed to explore the views of groups often excluded from such discussions. This paper reports on their views about the potential for contact tracing to exacerbate inequalities.MethodsA qualitative study was carried out; interviews were conducted with key informants from organizations supporting people in marginalized situations, followed by interviews and focus groups with people recruited from these groups. Participants included, or represented, minority ethnic groups, asylum seekers and refugees and those experiencing multiple disadvantage including severe and enduring poverty.ResultsA total of 42 people participated: 13 key informants and 29 members of the public. While public participants were supportive of contact tracing, key informants raised concerns. Both sets of participants spoke about how contact tracing, and its associated digital tools, might increase inequalities. Barriers included finances (inability to afford smartphones or the data to ensure access to the internet); language (digital tools were available only in English and required a degree of literacy, even for English speakers); and trust (many marginalized groups distrusted statutory organizations and there were concerns that data may be passed to other organizations). One strength was that NHS Scotland, the data guardian, is seen as a generally trustworthy organization. Poverty was recognized as a barrier to people''s ability to self‐isolate. Some participants were concerned about giving contact details of individuals who might struggle to self‐isolate for financial reasons.ConclusionsThe impact of contact tracing and associated digital tools on marginalized populations needs careful monitoring. This should include the contact tracing process and the ability of people to self‐isolate. Regular clear messaging from trusted groups and community members could help maintain trust and participation in the programme.Patient and Public ContributionOur patient and public involvement coapplicant, L. L., was involved in all aspects of the study including coauthorship. Interim results were presented to our local Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement Group, who commented on interpretation and made suggestions about further recruitment.     

Shedding light in otolaryngology: A brief history on the surgical tools of visualization and access

Visualization and access. Historically, these have been the two major factors that have limited advancement in the field of Otolaryngology. No other surgical specialty deals with anatomical challenges quite like those presented by the structures of the head and neck. Otolaryngology is a field of dark cavities, complex and miniscule structures, and awkward angles. The aim of this article is to briefly explore how Otolaryngologists have historically met these challenges, with a specific focus on technological advancements in illumination, visualization, and access. From mirrors reflecting candlelight to fiberoptic illuminated scopes, from bamboo nasal speculums to Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), tracing the historical arc of these technologies highlights the innovative spirit that has come to define the field of Otolaryngology.     

我国药品上市后重点监测相关问题的探讨

摘 要为加强我国药品上市后监管力度,保障药品安全,国家食品药品监督管理总局于2011年正式提出了开展重点监测的要求,并于2013年进一步制定了《生产企业药品重点监测工作指南》（征求意见稿）。该指南对我国药品重点监测这一新制度的含义、内容、责任主体、程序、标准等进行了初步规定,以指导药品生产企业规范开展重点监测工作,保障重点监测制度的顺利实施。重点监测制度目前尚处于起步阶段,各界理解存在差异,通过对指南内容进行解读,对重点监测实施中可能存在的相关问题进行探讨,有助于更好地达到重点监测工作的目的和预期效果。     

落实药师人才发展规划加快药师人才队伍建设的思考

药师是我国新医改和医药卫生事业发展的急需紧缺专门人才,国家规划到2020年药师人才队伍达到85万。为落实该目标,本文结合药师队伍现状,探讨药师人才队伍发展策略,分析实现人才发展目标所需的配套政策与措施,为实现《国家中长期人才发展规划纲要》中药师队伍建设部分提供参考依据。     

试论《金匮要略》妇人病治疗特色

从<金匮要略>中对<内经>"有故无殒"思想的临床运用,不同剂型和治疗手段的灵活选取等方面对张仲景治疗妇人病的特色进行概述.     

国家药物政策相关立法研究

世界卫生组织（WHO）推荐各国制定国家药物政策（NDP）,有利于政府各部门及社会各界对国家医药．f-作的目标和策略统一认识和协调行动。本文通过比较研究WHO和多国NDP,结合我国国情初步拟定了我国NDP的目标和框架,并从提高药品可及性、保证药品质量安全、促进合理用药、促进制药行业发展、加快中药发展五方面,提出完善我国药品管理法律体系的建议,     

A New Model Supporting Stability Quality of Materials and Industrial Products

Stabilizing the quality of industrial product materials remains a challenge. This applies mainly to new or significantly modified materials. It also refers to special processes. The tests of product quality can stabilize the quality of industrial product materials. The popular method for this is using the non-destructive testing (NDT). The NDT identifies incompatibility but does not determine the cause of its occurrence. Hence, it was necessary to support the process of identifying causes of incompatibilities in products. The purpose of the article was to develop a model based on a new approach to determine the ranking of actions that are possible as part of the process of stabilizing the quality of industrial products. The model was developed to improve quality through sequential and systematic methods of identification (and reduce) and incompatibility. The quality management techniques and decision method were applied and combined in this model, i.e., SMART(-ER) the method, method of selecting a team of experts, brainstorming (BM), Ishikawa diagram with the 5M rule, Likert scale validation technique, arithmetic average, and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The test of this model was carried out to find cracks in the outer hull of 418 alloy four-point bearing (CPW-S 5616), which was identified by NDT (magnetic-powder method). As a result, a ranking of activities was obtained to stabilize the quality of the product and the main cause of incompatibility was indicated, i.e., the cause which can influence to the most degree influence on occurrence the incompatibility. The originality of the proposed model is an application in the right order of specially selected and combined qualitative methods and supporting decision methods. The finding of causes of incompatibility of products is the basis of product improvement in the area of stabilizing the quality of materials, mainly by the occurrence of special processes. The universality of the model refers to the possibility of its application for any material, processes of its formation, and processes of products, and any incompatibilities where the model can be integrated with quality control.     

癌症生存者家庭适应相关测量工具的研究进展

介绍家庭适应的相关概念及起源,阐述家庭适应方面常用测量工具的发展历程、内容结构、适用人群、评分方法、信度与效度、应用现状等情况,以期能够指导临床工作者在实践过程中选择合适的家庭适应测量工具,旨在帮助研究者进一步开发适用于我国癌症生存者的特异性家庭适应测量工具。     

基于政策工具视角的中医院发展政策文本分析

目的:从政策工具视角对我国中医院发展政策文本进行分析,揭示现有政策工具存在的问题.方法:基于政策工具和中医院发展评价维度构建二维分析框架,采用内容分析方法对28份中医院发展政策文本进行分析.结果:供给型政策、环境型政策、需求型政策分别占总数量的40.79％、36.84％、22.37％.中医院发展评价维度分为资源配置、能...     

国内外数字健康素养评估工具的研究进展

介绍国内外数字健康素养评估工具的研制方法、优势与不足以及应用情况等,为我国有关人员针对不同人群选用及开发数字健康素养评估工具以及进行相关研究和护理实践提供参考依据。