Chronic disease self-management competency and care satisfaction between users of public and private primary care in Singapore

INTRODUCTION@#Primary healthcare providers play a crucial role in educating their patients on chronic disease self-management (CDSM). This study aims to evaluate CDSM competency and satisfaction in patients receiving their healthcare from public or private healthcare providers.@*METHODS@#A cross-sectional household study was conducted in a public housing estate using a standardised questionnaire to interview Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 40 years and above, who were diagnosed with at least 1 of these chronic diseases: hyperlipidaemia, hypertension or diabetes mellitus. CDSM competency was evaluated with the Partners In Health (PIH) scale and a knowledge based questionnaire. Satisfaction was evaluated using a satisfaction scale.@*RESULTS@#In general, the 420 respondents demonstrated good CDSM competency, with 314 followed up at polyclinics and 106 by general practitioners (GPs). There was no significant difference between patients of polyclinics and GPs in CDSM competency scores (mean PIH score 72.9 vs 75.1, P=0.563), hypertension knowledge scores (90.9 vs 85.4, P=0.16) and diabetes knowledge scores (84.3 vs 79.5, P=0.417), except for hyperlipidaemia knowledge scores (78.6 vs 84.7, P=0.043). However, respondents followed up by GPs had higher satisfaction rates than did those followed up at polyclinics (odds ratio 3.6, confidence interval 2.28-5.78). Favourable personality of the doctors and ideal consultation duration led to higher satisfaction in the GP setting. A longer waiting time led to lower satisfaction in the polyclinic group.@*CONCLUSION@#Polyclinics and GPs provide quality primary care as evidenced by high and comparable levels of CDSM competency. Redistribution of patients from public to private clinics may result in improvements in healthcare service quality.

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PATIENT PROFILE AND CAREGIVER FACTORS AMONGST RECENT STROKE SURVIVORS ADMITTED TO COMMUNITY HOSPITALS IN SINGAPORE

Caregivers are important in post-stroke rehabilitation, but little work has been done on the caregivers of stroke survivors in Asian cultures. We examined the association between patient profile (age, gender, socioeconomic status, functional level, religion, and ethnicity) and caregiver availability, number of potential caregivers and primary caregiver identity amongst Singaporean community hospitals' stroke patients. Data was obtained from all Singaporean community hospitals from 1996-2005. 3796 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. Mixed logistic regression identified independent predictors of caregiver availability and primary caregiver identity. Mixed Poisson modelling identified independent predictors of the number of caregiver(s). Among recent stroke survivors, 95.8% (3640/3796) had potential caregivers, of which 94.2% (3429/3640) had identified primary caregivers. Of the latter, 41.2% relied on live-in hired help (foreign domestic workers-FDWs), 27.6% on spouses and 21.6% on first-degree relatives. Independent patient factors associated with caregiver availability and number were older, female, married, higher socioeconomic status, having a religion and lower functional level at admission. Independent patient factors associated with FDW caregivers were older age, female, Chinese compared to Malay, with higher socioeconomic class and lower functional level at admission. Caregiver availability for post-stroke patients in Singapore community hospitals is relatively high, with heavy dependence on FDWs.

Predictors of Acute, Rehabilitation and Total Length of Stay in Acute Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The poststroke acute and rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) are key markers of stroke care efficiency. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and identify the predictors of poststroke acute, rehabilitation and total LOS. This study also defined a subgroup of patients as "short" LOS and compared its complication rates and functional outcomes in rehabilitation with a "long" acute LOS group.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>A prospective cohort study (n = 1277) was conducted in a dedicated rehabilitation unit within a tertiary academic acute hospital over a 5-year period between 2004 and 2009. The functional independence measure (FIM) was the primary functional outcome measure in the rehabilitation phase. A group with an acute LOS of less than 7 days was defined as "short" acute LOS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ischaemic strokes comprised 1019 (80%) of the cohort while the rest were haemorrhagic strokes. The mean acute and rehabilitation LOS were 9 ± 7 days and 18 ± 10 days, respectively. Haemorrhagic strokes and anterior circulation infarcts had significantly longer acute, rehabilitation and total LOS compared to posterior circulation and lacunar infarcts. The acute, rehabilitation and total LOS were significantly shorter for stroke admissions after 2007. There was poor correlation (r = 0.12) between the acute and rehabilitation LOS. In multivariate analyses, stroke type was strongly associated with acute LOS, while rehabilitation admission FIM scores were significantly associated with rehabilitation LOS. Patients in the short acute LOS group had fewer medical complications and similar FIM efficacies compared to the longer acute LOS group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Consideration for stroke type and initial functional status will facilitate programme planning that has a better estimation of the LOS duration, allowing for more equitable resource distribution across the inpatient stroke continuum. We advocate earlier transfers of appropriate patients to rehabilitation units as this ensures rehabilitation efficacy is maintained while the development of medical complications is potentially minimised.</p>

Predictors of Participation in Supervised Therapy by Post-Stroke Patients in the Singapore Community: a One Year Cohort Study

Introduction: To determine the relationship between participation in supervised and unsupervised therapy, and predictors of participation in supervised therapy during the first post-stroke year. Materials & Methods: Design: Prospective longitudinal study with interviews at admission, discharge, one month, six months and one year after discharge. Setting: Two subacute inpatient rehabilitation units and the community after discharge in Singapore. Participants: 215 subacute non-aphasic stroke patients. Intervention: Participation rate in supervised therapy (at outpatient rehabilitation centres) and unsupervised therapy (at home) defined as proportion of time spent performing therapy as prescribed by the subacute hospital’s multidisciplinary rehabilitation team at discharge. Main Outcome Measure: Predictors of participation in supervised and unsupervised therapy. Results: Patients who participated in supervised therapy (i.e. at an outpatient rehabilitation centre) >25% of the time recommended were more likely to participate in unsupervised therapy (i.e. at home) >75% of the time recommended at one, six and 12 months (crude odds ratio, OR = 4.41 [95%CI:2.09–10.17], 4.45 [95%CI:2.17–9.12], 6.93 [95%CI:2.60–18.48] respectively). Greater participation in supervised therapy at one and six months independently predicted greater participation in supervised therapy at six (adjusted OR=11.64 [95%CI:4.52-29.97]) and twelve months (adjusted OR=76.46 [95%CI:12.52-466.98]) respectively. Caregiver availability at six months independently predicted poorer participation in supervised therapy at 12 months. Conclusion: Interventions to increase participation in supervised therapy in the first post-stroke year should focus on transition of care in the first month after discharge. Further studies are needed to understand why caregiver availability was associated with low participation in supervised therapy.

Socio-demographic and clinical profile of admissions to community hospitals in Singapore from 1996 to 2005: a descriptive study

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Little data is available on community hospital admissions. We examined the differences between community hospitals and the annual trends in sociodemographic characteristics of all patient admissions in Singaporean community hospitals over a 10- year period from 1996 to 2005.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Data were manually extracted from medical records of 4 community hospitals existent in Singapore from 1996 to 2005. Nineteen thousand and three hundred and sixty patient records were examined. Chisquare test was used for univariate analysis of categorical variables by type of community hospitals. For annual trends, test for linear by linear association was used. ANOVA was used to generate beta coefficients for continuous variables.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean age of all patient admissions has increased from 72.8 years in 1996 to 74.8 years in 2005. The majority was Chinese (88.4%), and female (58.1%) and admissions were mainly for rehabilitation (88.0%). Almost one third had foreign domestic workers as primary caregivers and most (73.5%) were discharged to their own home. There were significant differences in socio-demographic profile of admissions between hospitals with one hospital having more patients with poor social support. Over the 10-year period, the geometric mean length of stay decreased from 29.7 days (95% CI, 6.4 to 138.0) to 26.7 days (95% CI, 7.5 to 94.2), and both mean admission and discharge Barthel Index scores increased from 41.0 (SD = 24.9) and 51.8 (SD = 30.0), respectively in 1996 to 48.4 (SD = 24.5) and 64.2 (SD = 27.3) respectively in 2005.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are significant differences in socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profile of admissions between various community hospitals and across time. Understanding these differences and trends in admission profiles may help in projecting future healthcare service needs.</p>