Assessment of health-seeking behavior among the households of an urban area, Bengaluru, Karnataka - A cross-sectional study

Background: Health-seeking behavior (HSB) refers to a series of actions taken to correct the perceived ill-health. Knowledge on HSB of the target population is pertinent to achieve health for all. To fulfill community perspectives and needs, health systems need to adapt their strategies, taking into account the findings from behavioral studies. HSB of a person is affected by a number of factors acting at various levels. Behavior of the population of denying health care at public sector needs rectification by improving the quality of services. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the HSB and factors affecting it among the households of urban field practice area, Bengaluru. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice area of Bengaluru. The sample size was calculated to be 350 households. Data regarding sociodemographic profile, preferred health sector during illness, and other details were obtained by interview method using a pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Majority of households (269) agreed to that they were availing services from government health sector. However, still, it was noticed that 81 households (23.10%) did not avail any kind of services from government health sector. Most common reasons for not visiting government health sector were inconvenient timings (40.96% of responses), overcrowding (28.80%), and unsatisfactory services (21.40%). Conclusion: Households chose costly, satisfactory health services at private sector over low cost unsatisfactory health services at government health center.

La gestión de programas y proyectos territoriales de ciencia e innovación en el sector de la salud pública de Holguín, Cuba / Management of territorial science and innovation programs and projects from the public health sector in Holguín, Cuba

El desarrollo de las investigaciones que contribuyen a la generación y aplicación de nuevos conocimientos, productos y procesos que eleven la calidad del sistema de salud cubano constituye una de las prioridades del Ministerio de Salud Pública en el país. El Sistema de Programas y proyectos de ciencia e innovación implementado desde 1996 a nivel nacional, ramal y territorial como parte del Sistema de Ciencia e Innovación Tecnológica ha constituido una valiosa herramienta en la organización de la actividad científica e innovativa en los diferentes niveles. Su implementación a nivel territorial abarca diferentes sectores socioeconómicos, entre los que se encuentra la salud pública. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo examinar la utilidad de la gestión de programas y proyectos de ciencia e innovación en la planificación, organización, ejecución y control de las investigaciones en el sector de la salud en la provincia de Holguín, a partir del análisis de su evolución desde sus inicios en 1997 hasta su término en el 2012. El estudio realizado demostró la incidencia positiva de la gestión de proyectos en el incremento de la efectividad de la actividad científica en la salud pública en el territorio, lo cual se manifiesta en una mejor gestión del gasto destinado a proyectos de I+D+i, mayor calidad de los proyectos ejecutados y un incremento del nivel de introducción de los resultados y del efecto de estos en la sociedad holguinera. Además, permitió identificar las principales deficiencias que limitaron el desarrollo de dicho proceso

One of the priorities of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health is the development of research contributing to the generation and application of new knowledge, products and processes aimed at improving the quality of the Cuban health system. Implemented in 1996 on a national, territorial and local scale as part of the Science and Technological Innovation System, the system of science and innovation programs and projects constitutes a valuable tool for the organization of scientific and innovative activity on the various levels. Territorial implementation comprises several socioeconomic sectors, including public health. The purpose of the present paper is to evaluate the usefulness of the management of science and innovation programs and projects in terms of the planning, organization, implementation and control of research tasks in the public health sector in the province of Holguín, based on the analysis of its evolution from its start in 1997 to its end in 2012. The study showed the positive impact of project management on the effectiveness of scientific activity in the public health sector in the territory, evidenced by better management of expenditures on R & D, the higher quality of the projects implemented, and an increase in the incorporation of results and their effect on society in Holguín. It also made it possible to identify the main deficiencies limiting the development of the process

Gestão de custos aplicada a hospitais universitários públicos: a experiência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da USP / Cost management applied to public university hospitals: the experience of the The Ribeirão Preto Medical School Clinics Hospital of the University of São Paulo

Este artigo apresenta a experiência de implantação da metodologia de custos baseada em atividades (ABC) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo, por meio de um estudo de caso, num período de cinco anos. As características dos hospitais universitários de alta tecnologia, tais como atividades docente-assistenciais e serviços básicos de saúde, fazem com que seus custos sejam mais elevados do que os de hospitais não universitários. Na sua trajetória institucional, o HCFMRP-USP não possuía uma metodologia consistente de mensuração e avaliação dos custos de sua atividade assistencial. No entanto, dificuldades de financiamento de suas atividades, associadas a uma completa reestruturação em seu modelo de atendimento vinculado ao Sistema Único de Saúde, impulsionaram a adoção do mapeamento de custos por atividades, para demonstrar, de forma adequada, como pode ser mensurado o impacto do ensino nos custos assistenciais, visto que a agenda democrática nacional tem reivindicado transparência, accountability e, fundamentalmente, eficiência na gestão dos recursos públicos.

This paper presents the experience of implementing the methodology of cost-based activities (ABC) at The Ribeirão Preto Medical School Clinics Hospital of the University of São Paulo (HCFMRP-USP), through a case study over a period of five years. Characteristics of high technology university hospitals, such as teaching and assistance, make their costs higher than those of non-university hospitals. In its institutional history, HCFMRP-USP lacked a consistent methodology for measuring and assessing the costs of its assistance activities. However, difficulties in financing these activities, associated with a complete restructuring in the hospital's healthcare model linked to the National Health System, have furthered the adoption of cost mapping, in order to assess adequately the impact of teaching activities in healthcare costs, considering that the country's democratic agenda has demanded transparency, accountability and, above all, efficiency in public funds management.