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.     

Dreaming the impossible dream? An exploratory study on the expectations of Dutch clients with multiple problems concerning the co-production of public services

Currently, many policymakers try to encourage client involvement during the public service delivery process and make it a co-production. Clients are encouraged to act as active agents and embrace an integrated approach to address their problems to empower them. However, different studies have raised questions regarding to what extent these ambitions are appropriate for clients with vulnerabilities, such as clients with multiple problems. Aiming to further explore this issue, we studied the expectations of clients with multiple problems concerning the co-production of public services. We interviewed 46 clients with multiple problems at the start of their support trajectory. All 46 participants lived in five districts in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and were recruited via community-based primary care teams. Our study indicates that co-production ambitions might not resonate with clients with multiple problems. The study shows that these clients’ expectations are driven by their feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed out by their situation, feelings of being a victim of circumstances, bad experiences with public services in the past, their evaluation of what counts as a problem and the envisioned solutions. These clients expect public service providers to take over, fix their main problem(s) and not interfere with other aspects of their lives (not an integrated approach). Although participants seek a ‘normal’ life with, e.g., a house, work, partner, children, holidays, a pet, and no stress (a white picket fence life) as ideal, they do not feel that this is attainable for them. More insight into the rationale behind these expectations could help to bridge the gap between policymakers’ ambitions and clients’ expectations.     

广州市海珠区3~12岁儿童身高调查及影响因素分析

目的:了解广州市海珠区儿童身高发育情况,分析其影响因素。方法:随机抽取海珠区904名3~12岁儿童进行体格测量,对家长进行问卷调查,获得儿童身高及其影响因素的相关数据。结果:3~5岁组男、女童,6~岁组男童,7~8岁组男、女童,9~岁组男童的身高均值均低于全国水平(P<0.05)。当前身高低于遗传身高的儿童占21.6%;与遗传身高一致占65%;高于遗传身高的占13.4%。母亲身高,体型是否肥胖,经常吃钙片、喝牛奶,慢性疾病史,每天运动时间为身高的影响因素(P<0.05)。结论:广州市海珠区儿童身高发育的整体水平较低,大部分儿童没有发挥身高的生长潜能,应重视环境因素对身高的影响,采取相应干预措施,促进儿童身高增长。     

2019年东莞市长安镇高血压患者血压控制现状及其影响因素分析

目的:探讨东莞市长安镇社区高血压患者血压控制情况及其相关因素,为干预措施的制定提供依据。方法:选取长安镇参加2019年体检的社区高血压患者,分析血压控制情况及其影响因素。结果:10246例高血压患者中,血压控制未达标6666例(65.00%),达标3589例(35.00%);不同年龄组、性别、体质指数、是否饮酒、是否规律锻炼、是否高脂血症、是否高尿酸血症、服药依从性、是否签约和服务模式的血压控制达标率差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:长安镇社区高血压患者血压控制效果不理想,应针对血压控制的影响因素,加强中青年高血压患者的教育,有效落实家庭医生签约服务,提高服务依从性,提高规范管理率,开展更有针对性、更科学和更高效的高血压防治工作。     

Examining community pharmacists’ intention to provide pharmacist-driven vaccination services: A structural equation modelling

BackgroundThe evidence of pharmacists' current involvement in vaccination services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is uncertain. This study would be a first step to develop vaccination services by investigating community pharmacists’ intention to be involved in PDV services not just during COVID-19 pandemic but also during standard service provision in Turkey which can be taken as an example across LMICs.ObjectiveConsidering the efforts to empower community pharmacists in service provision, the goal of the present study was to develop a structural equation model to explain the “Pharmacist-Driven Vaccination Service Intention Model (PDV-SIM)” by using the theory of planned behavior (TPB).MethodsBased on the constructs of TPB, a measurement tool was developed. Sub-factors of PDV service intention was determined by conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In the second step, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to prove the theoretical structure of the tool. Finally, a model explaining the relationship between observed variables, latent constructs from TPB was developed by SEM analysis.ResultsIn the proposed PDV-SIM, patient related attitude toward PDV services, attitude toward negative consequences of PDV services, and subjective norm about PDV services had an impact on the behavioral intention of community pharmacists. Nevertheless, professional development attitude toward PDV services and perceived behavioral control were not evaluated as determinants of the behavioral intention.ConclusionResults of this study revealed that TPB is appropriate for modelling PDV service intention of community pharmacists. This model can be utilized as a guide to potential pharmacy regulatory bodies and policy makers in their efforts to enable community pharmacists as vaccinators across LMICs.     

淋巴瘤累及胃结肠韧带的CT表现

目的 探讨非霍奇金氏淋巴瘤（non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,NHL）累及胃结肠韧带（gastrocolic ligament,GCL）的CT表现及其解剖学基础。方法 回顾性分析26例经病理确诊的累及GCL的NHL病例,着重观察GCL的CT表现。结果 GCL受累主要表现为GCL内淋巴结增大,增大淋巴结呈散在分布,未见淋巴结融合。增大淋巴结表现为均匀强化者25例,均匀强化合并环状强化者1例。有2例显示GCL增厚、局部呈饼状改变,伴有腹腔积液。结论 熟悉GCL影像解剖学特点有助于累及GCL的NHL的CT诊断。     

The anaesthetist as determinant factor of quality of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis. A survey in a university hospital.

In actual surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis, the anaesthetist administers the drugs at induction of anaesthesia. In the first phase of our qualityofuse intervention study on antimicrobial drugs in a large university hospital, information on the practice of antimicrobial prophylaxis was needed. The staff of 44 anaesthetists was interviewed by means of a questionnaire. Response rate was 36/44 (82%). The anaesthetists' method of administering surgical prophylaxis was rather uniform and inexpensive: cephalosporins were almost exclusively administered by bolus method. The main reason was that infusion was more cumbersome (range 7785%). Communication between surgeon and anaesthetist was reported to be poor, and in two out of three operating departments, orders of prophylaxis transmitted at or after induction accounted for more than 80%. Seventyseven percent of the responders asked the surgeon if prophylaxis was necessary if they were in doubt; 20% responded that they checked it systematically. The data collected by the inquiry proved useful in the process of optimizing surgical prophylaxis in our hospital.     

Pediatric intestinal transplantation

Advancements in donor management, organ preservation and operative techniques, as well as immunosuppressive therapies, have provided children with intestinal failure and its complications a chance not only for enteral autonomy but also long-term survival through intestinal transplantation (ITx). First described in the 1960’s, experience has grown in managing these complex patients both pre- and post-transplant. The goals of this review are to provide a brief history of intestinal transplantation and intestinal rehabilitation in pediatric patients, followed by focused discussions of the indications for ITx, induction and maintenance immunosuppression therapies, common post-operative complications, and outcomes/quality of life post-transplant.