Risk of insomnia and hypnotics use among emergency physicians

This study investigated the risk of insomnia and hypnotics use among emergency physicians. This cross-sectional study recruited physicians working in Taiwanese hospitals in 2015 and the general population as the participants. Data from 1,097 emergency physicians obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database were grouped into the case group, whereas 14,112 nonemergency physicians and 4,388 people from the general population were categorized into the control groups. This study used logistic regression and conditional logistic regression to compare the risks of insomnia between emergency and nonemergency physicians and between emergency physicians and the general population, respectively. The prevalence of insomnia among emergency physicians, nonemergency physicians and general population was 5.56%, 4.08%, and 1.73%, respectively. Compared with nonemergency physicians and the general population, emergency physicians had a significantly higher risk of insomnia. The proportions of emergency physicians, nonemergency physicians, and general population using hypnotics were 19.96%, 18.24%, and 13.26%, respectively. Among emergency physicians who used hypnotics, 49.77%, 25.57%, and 24.66% used only benzodiazepines, only nonbenzodiazepines, and both benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepines, respectively. Nonpharmacological interventions to improve insomnia and reminder of safe use of hypnotics to emergency physicians can serve as references for hospitals in developing health-promoting activities.     

Determinants of information diffusion in online communication on vaccination: The benefits of visual displays

ObjectiveSocial media are an increasingly important source of information on the benefits and risks of vaccinations, but the high prevalence of misinformation provides challenges for informed vaccination decisions. It is therefore important to understand which messages are likely to diffuse online and why, and how relevant aspects—such as scientific facts on vaccination effectiveness—can be made more comprehensible and more likely to be shared. In two studies, we (i) explore which characteristics of messages on flu vaccination facilitate their diffusion in online communication, and (ii) whether visual displays (i.e., icon arrays) facilitate the comprehension and diffusion of scientific effectiveness information.MethodsIn Study 1, 208 participants each rated a random sample of 15 out of 63 messages on comprehensibility, trustworthiness, persuasiveness, familiarity, informativeness, valence, and arousal, and then reported which information they would share with subsequent study participants. In Study 2 (N = 758), we employed the same rating procedure for a selected set of 9 messages and experimentally manipulated how scientific effectiveness information was displayed.ResultsStudy 1 illustrated that scientific effectiveness information was difficult to understand and thus did not diffuse well. Study 2 demonstrated that visual displays improved the understanding of this information, which could, in turn, increase its social impact.ConclusionsThe comprehensibility of scientific information is an important prerequisite for its diffusion. Visual displays can facilitate informed vaccination decisions by rendering important information on vaccination effectiveness more transparent and increasing the willingness to share this information.     

Qualité des supports de communication de crise lors de la pandémie de la COVID-19 au Grand Maghreb

ObjectiveTo objectively assess the quality of “crisis communication” media, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the three Greater Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco).MethodsA compliance audit for press releases and epidemiological bulletins was analyzed against a quality benchmark, which had been specifically designed by the authors. This framework, made up of five dimensions and 50 items, graded (0/1), was applied by two researchers in preventive medicine. Multiplying the scores by a coefficient of two resulted in a partial score of 20 points for each dimension and a total score of 100 points for the checklist taken as a whole. The quality of the communication media was considered to be good when exceeding the thresholds of 15/20 for the different dimensions and 75/100 for the entire grid.ResultsA total of 141 information media were included in this audit (Tunisia: 60; Algeria: 60; Morocco: 21). The overall median quality score for these media was only 56/100 (IIQ: [46–58]), without major variability between countries. The most appreciated dimension was “maintaining the confidence of the population”, with an overall median score of 14/20 (12/20 for epidemiological bulletins and 16/20 for press releases). The most poorly rated dimension was “strengthening community participation”, with a median score of only 4/20 (6/20 for epidemiological bulletins and 4/20 for press releases).ConclusionThe quality of the Maghreb crisis communication media during COVID-19 was insufficient in most of its dimensions and items, particularly from a psychosocial standpoint. Reinforcement of the capacities of communication officers to develop information material and supports during health crises is indispensable and should be considered as an urgent matter.     

Who receives influenza vaccinations at the Pharmacy? An analysis of the Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

IntroductionVaccination helps to prevent influenza infection and reduce associated costs but the influenza vaccination rate in Texas for adults between the ages of 18 to 64 years old is the lowest in the US. Pharmacies and alternative locations have been shown to help increase vaccination rates but many adults still go unvaccinated.ObjectiveThis research aims to determine the factors associated with obtaining influenza vaccination at the pharmacy compared to non-pharmacy locations in Texas.MethodThis study used pooled Texas Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System datasets (2014 to 2018) for this assessment. The main outcome variable was categorized into pharmacy and non-pharmacy vaccination locations and analyzed using a logistic regression analysis. Further statistical analysis was done using a multinomial logistic regression after re-categorizing the outcome variable into pharmacy, doctor office, and other locations.ResultBlacks were 63% (AOR 0.37, C.I. 0.26, 0.50) and Hispanics were 38% (AOR 0.62, C.I. 0.48, 0.80) less likely to receive influenza vaccinations at the pharmacy respectively when compared to Whites. Furthermore, those who did not live in a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) were 33% (AOR 0.67, C.I 0.53, 0.84) less likely to receive influenza vaccinations at the pharmacy compared to those who lived in an MSA. While there was no observed difference in the likelihood of receiving influenza vaccination, the unemployed population were 40% (AOR 1.40, C.I 1.15, 1.71) more likely to be vaccinated in the pharmacy compared to the employed population.ConclusionThere is potential for increased utilization of pharmacies as a source of influenza vaccination in Texas. Racial differences exist both for receiving influenza vaccinations and being vaccinated in the pharmacy. Influenza vaccination advocacy and education efforts may be necessary to improve pharmacy-based vaccination in Texas, especially for minorities and rural-dwelling Texans.     

Cost-effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnant women,healthcare workers and adults >= 60 years of age in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

BackgroundPregnant women, healthcare workers (HW), and adults >= 60 years have shown an increased vulnerability to seasonal influenza virus infections and/or complications. In 2012, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) initiated a national influenza vaccination program for these target groups. A cost-effectiveness evaluation of this program was undertaken to inform program sustainability.MethodsWe designed a decision-analytical model and collected influenza-related medical resource utilization and cost data, including indirect costs. Model inputs were obtained from medical record abstraction, interviews of patients and staff at hospitals in the national influenza sentinel surveillance system and/or from literature reviews. We compared the annual disease and economic impact of influenza illnesses in each of the target groups in Lao PDR under scenarios of no vaccination and vaccination, and then estimated the cost-effectiveness of the vaccination program. We performed sensitivity analyses to identify influential variables.ResultsOverall, the vaccination of pregnant women, HWs, and adults >= 60 years could annually save 11,474 doctor visits, 1,961 days of hospitalizations, 43,027 days of work, and 1,416 life-years due to laboratory-confirmed influenza illness. After comparing the total vaccination program costs of 23.4 billion Kip, to the 18.4 billion Kip saved through vaccination, we estimated the vaccination program to incur a net cost of five billion Kip (599,391 USD) annually. The incremental cost per life-year saved (ICER) was 44 million Kip (5,295 USD) and 6.9 million Kip (825 USD) for pregnant women and adults >= 60 years, respectively. However, vaccinating HWs provided societal cost-savings, returning 2.88 Kip for every single Kip invested. Influenza vaccine effectiveness, attack rate and illness duration were the most influential variables to the model.ConclusionProviding influenza vaccination to HWs in Lao PDR is cost-saving while vaccinating pregnant women and adults >= 60 is cost-effective and highly cost-effective, respectively, per WHO standards.     

DRG在深圳市某区临床重点专科评估中的应用

目的评价并遴选深圳市某区临床重点专科,为该区临床重点专科的发展以及我国临床重点专科的评估提供借鉴。方法将DRG相关指标与传统指标相结合作为该区临床重点专科评估指标体系,运用TOPSIS法计算该区11家医院41个临床专科2016—2018年的总排名。结果该区排名前5位的临床重点专科分别是I医院显微外科、J医院产科、K医院鼻科、K医院耳鼻咽喉科以及D医院骨科,排名后5位的专科分别是H医院风湿病科、D医院泌尿外科、C医院儿科、C医院眼耳鼻喉科以及F医院神经外科。结论该区应加快重点专科发展,形成区域专科优势;促进专科均衡发展,满足基本医疗需求;提高专科服务效率,优化医疗资源配置;依托医疗集团做强专科特色品牌,促进专科差异化发展;进一步提高病历首页质量管理水平。     

艾滋病的流行情况和危险因素与预防进展

艾滋病疫情的特征是人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)特异性地攻击CD4⁺T淋巴细胞,导致患者出现各种机会性感染或肿瘤,从而造成获得性免疫缺陷功能障碍(AIDS)。当前我国的艾滋病疫情处于总体低流行状况,疫情地区分布差异大,性传播逐渐成为主要传播途径,艾滋病疫情上升速度有所减缓,但是流行因素依然存在。同时我国科研与卫生工作者针对我国的艾滋病做了大量的工作,譬如已经进行了大量的流行病调查与科研前期分析,开发了一些前期用药,了解了多数艾滋病高发地区的疫情状况,但是存在一定的不足。本文综述了艾滋病的流行情况,深入阐述了艾滋病的危险因素与传播方式,重点论述了艾滋病的预防进展,包括心理干预、夫妻支持和社会支持等,希望为艾滋病的早诊断、早治疗提供帮助。     

2008—2018年济南市饮用水健康风险时空特征研究

目的 为掌握济南市饮用水水质卫生状况,识别可能存在健康风险的有害物质,为今后安全供水提供技术依据。方法 收集济南市2008—2018年生活饮用水监测数据,利用美国环保署风险评估四步法,分析健康风险时间、空间分布情况。结果 氟化物、硝酸盐氮少量水样非致癌风险超过1.0,农村水样风险高于城市。砷、铅检出较少,但检出限高于风险限,可能存在未分辨风险。三氯甲烷城市水样每年有12.5%或25%的比例致癌风险超过10-6,农村水样只在2017年有5%超过10-6。结论 济南市2008—2018年饮用水健康风险整体较低。但砷检出限较高,目前检测技术难以定量分辨砷致癌风险。需开展持续监测和定期评估,及时发现潜在问题。需要增加农村自来水饮用宣传,消除地方性饮水型高氟。