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Objectives: In this study, we explored major National Health Insurance (NHI) policies in Taiwan and residents' awareness about, support for, utilization rate of, and satisfaction with them during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a reference for health-care policymakers. Methods: We analyzed data collected through a survey conducted among the residents (age ≥18 years) of Taiwan using the 2021 NHI satisfaction questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised questions on NHI satisfaction, NHI MediCloud system, My Health Bank, referral system, premium payment deferral or installment, telemedicine, virtual NHI cards, and other topics. Results: A total of 3,266 and 2,226 valid samples were obtained through annual and thematic polls, respectively. The rate of satisfaction with NHI and medical institutions was >90%. Of the respondents, 86.3% were satisfied with the travel history, occupation, contact history, and cluster query reminder system;38.4% were aware that My Health Bank can be used to seek medical information;>86.4% were satisfied with their experience;88.8% were willing to participate in the referral system;33.5% did not seek medical care due to the pandemic;86.2% supported the policy related to deferred payment of premiums;and 70% supported telemedicine promotion and virtual NHI card policies. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had no negative effects on the general public's attitude toward major NHI policies, which showed an upward trend. In the future, technology may be used to facilitate epidemic prevention and provide immediate support to individuals during severe epidemics. © 2022, Taiwan Public Health Association. All rights reserved.
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Objectives: In this study, we explored major National Health Insurance (NHI) policies in Taiwan and residents' awareness about, support for, utilization rate of, and satisfaction with them during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a reference for health-care policymakers. Methods: We analyzed data collected through a survey conducted among the residents (age ≥18 years) of Taiwan using the 2021 NHI satisfaction questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised questions on NHI satisfaction, NHI MediCloud system, My Health Bank, referral system, premium payment deferral or installment, telemedicine, virtual NHI cards, and other topics. Results: A total of 3,266 and 2,226 valid samples were obtained through annual and thematic polls, respectively. The rate of satisfaction with NHI and medical institutions was >90%. Of the respondents, 86.3% were satisfied with the travel history, occupation, contact history, and cluster query reminder system;38.4% were aware that My Health Bank can be used to seek medical information;>86.4% were satisfied with their experience;88.8% were willing to participate in the referral system;33.5% did not seek medical care due to the pandemic;86.2% supported the policy related to deferred payment of premiums;and 70% supported telemedicine promotion and virtual NHI card policies. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had no negative effects on the general public's attitude toward major NHI policies, which showed an upward trend. In the future, technology may be used to facilitate epidemic prevention and provide immediate support to individuals during severe epidemics. © 2022, Taiwan Public Health Association. All rights reserved.
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BACKGROUND: Telehealth refers to the use of technology to deliver health care remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an increase in telehealth services. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review satisfaction with pediatric care in studies that had at least one group of pediatric patients and their caregivers receiving telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic and at least one comparison group of those receiving nontelehealth services. METHODS: We searched for peer-reviewed studies published in the English language that compared the satisfaction with pediatric care between pediatric patients and their caregivers receiving telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic and those receiving nontelehealth services. Owing to stay-at-home orders, studies with comparison groups for nontelehealth services that took place either before or during the pandemic were eligible. We searched the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases on January 5, 2023. We followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 2 reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts before reviewing the full text of the remaining articles. The following information was extracted from each eligible study: country, participant characteristics by comparison group, study design, telehealth approach, measurement tools to assess satisfaction, and findings by comparison group. RESULTS: All 14 eligible studies assessed satisfaction among caregivers and pediatric patients participating in video or telephone visits during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with those having in-person appointments either before or during the pandemic. In 5 of the 14 studies, a comparison of nontelehealth services took place before the pandemic, and in the remaining 9 investigations, nontelehealth services took place during the pandemic. A total of 13 studies were observational investigations with different designs, and 1 study was a quasi-experimental intervention with 3 comparison groups for video, in-person, and hybrid visits. In 9 of the 14 studies, satisfaction with telehealth services was higher than during in-person visits. Caregivers were satisfied with video visits for the ease of use and reduced need for transportation. Reasons caregivers were not satisfied with remote care included limited personal interaction with the provider, technological challenges, and a lack of physical examination. Those participating in nontelehealth services expressed that in-person interactions promoted treatment adherence. Only 1 study assessed satisfaction where adolescent patients completed their own surveys; a higher percentage of adolescents using telehealth services reported effective communication with the provider compared with patients using in-person visits. CONCLUSIONS: In most studies, telehealth services received more favorable or comparable satisfaction ratings than in-person visits. Needed improvements in telehealth services included strategies to address technological challenges and develop better rapport among the patient, caregiver, and medical provider. Interventions may investigate the influence of telehealth services on access to and quality of care.
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INTRODUCTION: Crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus limit face-to-face consultation to the minimum necessary, this was a change toward telephone activity. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the experience of a neuropediatric consultation, INRPC, and satisfaction survey with the telephone consultation during COVID-19 crisis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of healthcare activity, as well as user satisfaction, during the State of Alarm in a neuropediatric consultation in a regional referral hospital. To measure satisfaction, a survey is conducted with parents and guardians. RESULTS: 416 children were attended by telephone. Most frequent diagnoses: neurodevelopmental disorder (27.8%), isolated ADD/ADHD (26.8%), and epilepsy (9.2%). 32.2% responded to the survey: 66.6% prior satisfaction. Global satisfaction with telephone consultation 59.9%; 77% would return to make the telephone consultation. CONCLUSIONS: User satisfaction with the telephone consultation, in a crisis situation, is similar to that perceived with the face-to-face consultation. 32% respond to the survey, and 60% are satisfied.
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Job satisfaction is one of the most frequently studied subjects for numerous researchers, aiming to investigate the behavior of employees in the workplace. Moreover, it is an important predictor of well-being in the workplace, having a direct association with the productivity of employees and the quality of services provided by each organization. In the field of health, the high level of job satisfaction of healthcare workers translates into a high level of patient care. Therefore, during the period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, efforts to evaluate the level of job satisfaction of healthcare workers represents a cornerstone in the effort to maintain high-level health services. The aim of the present study was to evaluate job satisfaction among healthcare workers in a COVID-19 emergency department during the pandemic and its potential association with the demographic characteristics of the participants. For the present cross-sectional study, which included 89 frontline healthcare workers, the 36-item Job Satisfaction Survey questionnaire was used. The findings concluded that the majority of the participants were not satisfied with their work (120±25.58). Among the nine job satisfaction factors examined, only the co-worker factor received a high job satisfaction score in the entire sample (16.08±4.14). By contrast, the other motivating factors were classified as unsatisfactory, namely pay (10.10±4.63), promotion (11.22±4.38), fringe benefits (10.63±4.09), contingent rewards (11.39±4.13) and communications (14.15±4.21). The control of the association between the socio-demographic data of the participants and the motivating factors of job satisfaction revealed that the age group of 45-55 years and the paramedical staff were more satisfied with the communication factor than the other categories of colleagues. In addition, it appears that the average value of satisfaction with the pay factor was significantly lower in the participating physicians (mean=8.59, P<0.05) compared to the other employee categories. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the measurement and evaluation of job satisfaction in the workplace of a hospital environment is a cornerstone in the efforts to create a healthy and safe work environment for healthcare staff during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring a high level of job satisfaction for healthcare workers will provide a high level of services to health service users.
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Affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, almost all students in China have to study online at home from February to June, 2020. In this paper, we discussed the forms of online courses and took Jiangsu Normal University as an example to introduce the online courses of remote sensing in China. The results of the satisfaction survey show that more than 90% of the respondents agree with online courses and believe that online courses can at least meet basic learning needs in the age of COVID-19, and more than 60% of respondents claimed that they had met or exceeded their learning expectations. The major advantages of online course include reducing the gathering of people and thus the risk of infection. However, there are still some problems with online courses, and we hope that these problems can be solved well in the future. © 2021 IEEE
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During the SARS CoV-2 pandemia and at three separate time period, our institution chose to turn the post interventional surveillance room of the operating room into a non-COVID intensive care unit. The chosen workflow included that the pharmacy team provided support to the medical team and was instrumental to implement an adapted drug circuit, including the creation of a supply cabinet, a specific frequency of its supply, a nominative dispensation and the presence of a pharmacist. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the proposed pharmaceutical organization workflow, the satisfaction of the nursing team and to collect their expert feedback for improvement. Method: A satisfaction survey questionnaire was set up and given to the nurses who worked in this temporary unit. Results: A total of 155 patients, i.e. an analysis of 111 prescriptions, were treated during the 126 days during which the unit was running. All the nurses who participated to the three time periods and the health care manager completed the questionnaire, i.e. 21 responses. The step that was felt to be the most difficult was prescribing (48%) due to the paper medium used. The presence of a pharmacist in the medical unit was appreciated by 90% of the survey respondents, particularly for requests on the supply of a drug (95%), or on drug information (58%). 90% of the respondents were hoping that this experience would be renewed if the unit opens again. An increase of the satisfaction due to the pharmaceutical presence is reported in each successive period. Conclusion: In case of an eventual new epidemic wave, it was decided to continue to assign a pharmacist to the non-COVID intensive care unit, in order to protect the unit performance. The survey revealed that two key factor are instrumental to this success, a daily analysis of prescriptions with the physicians and the on-site interaction with the nurses for the promotion of the right use of medications. Copyright © 2022 John Libbey Eurotext.
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PURPOSE: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the entire health-care system and has led to a sense of fear and anxiety in the minds of patients. Patient's perceptions in this scenario of the pandemic are unknown. Providing continued care for cancer patients during the lockdown has been challenging. Measures are needed to improve patient safety and satisfaction during these challenging times and hence the importance of measuring the degree of satisfaction for the quality of care provided. The aim of the study was to evaluate the factors related to patients' satisfaction and also understand their apprehensions, fears, and anxieties they face as they receive radiotherapy treatment amid COVID-19 pandemic. The study's objective was to explore other aspects such as logistic issues, patient-staff communication, and also perceptions of the patients toward the outbreak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted from April to September 2020. A questionnaire was created for which the patients were asked to provide answers. Parameters assessed included general information such as mode of transport used, frame of mind during treatment, awareness about pandemic, satisfaction toward care provided by health-care staff, and also documenting the suggestions to improve the quality of care. RESULTS: During this period, we interviewed 108 patients: 56 males (51.9%) and 52 females (48.1%). 90.7% of the participants were satisfied with the condition and safety measures employed in waiting area and billing section. Majority (88.9%) were found to be aware about COVID-19. 74.1% of the participants were very satisfied with the services provided to them in the department of radiation oncology. CONCLUSION: The survey was useful in measuring the patient satisfaction, in understanding their fears and anxieties, and also in determining their awareness about the pandemic. The survey was also useful to get the patients' opinion and ideas for improvement in the health-care services.
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Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data , Professional-Patient Relations , Tertiary Care Centers/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Anxiety/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Communication , Fear/psychology , Female , Humans , India/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Safety , Quality of Health Care , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine plays a critical role in providing safe, effective healthcare services, while reinforcing social distancing and optimizing the use of personal protective equipment. In this context, the Oklahoma Children's Hospital implemented virtual neonatology prenatal visits for pregnant women with a diagnosis of fetal anomalies. While tele-consultations have been broadly used with a high degree of acceptance in rural and remote areas, satisfaction has not been assessed in this particular scenario, where patients and physicians discussing sensitive healthcare information had to rapidly adjust to this new modality. Objectives: To evaluate patients' and neonatologists' satisfaction with virtual prenatal consultations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare satisfaction levels of patients receiving virtual consultation with those receiving in-person consults. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated patients' and neonatologists' satisfaction with virtual consultations. Participants included pregnant women with diagnosis of fetal anomalies who received neonatology prenatal consultations at Oklahoma Children's Hospital, either in-person or through telemedicine, from May to mid-November 2020, and neonatologists providing virtual prenatal consultations in the same period. Virtual visits were delivered via Zoom Pro™. Patients and physicians who agreed to participate rated acceptability completing an anonymous 5-point Likert scale survey. Item frequencies and means for categories of items were computed by group (video-consult patients, in-person patients, physicians) and analyzed, using Welch's t for unequal sample size. Results: Overall consultation quality was rated good or excellent by 35 (100%) video-consult patients and 12 (100%) in-person patients. Patient group means computed on six 5-point Likert items about patient-physician communication did not differ significantly, video-consult: M = 28.71 (2.22); in-person consult: M = 28.92 (1.78) (p = 0.753263). All eight physicians (100%) agreed or strongly agreed that telemedicine was effective, using a 5-point Likert scale, and their combined consultation quality score computed on 10 survey questions was high: M = 46.4 (3.11). Conclusion: Despite patient inexperience with tele-consultations, the quick implementation of telemedicine, and the sensitive reason for the visit, patients and physicians were highly satisfied with virtual visits. Telemedicine is a safe, effective alternative for providing neonatology prenatal consultations for pregnant women with diagnosis of fetal anomalies during the pandemic.
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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to obtain insight into providers' satisfaction with services offered by health-system integrated specialty pharmacies and to determine whether providers' perceptions of services offered under an integrated model differ from perceptions of external specialty pharmacy services. METHODS: A multi-site, cross-sectional, online survey of specialty clinic healthcare providers at 10 academic health systems with integrated specialty pharmacies was conducted. The questionnaire was developed by members of the Vizient Specialty Pharmacy Outcomes and Benchmarking Workgroup and was pretested at 3 pilot sites prior to dissemination. Prescribers of specialty medications within each institution were identified and sent an email invitation to participate in the study that included a link to the anonymous questionnaire. Respondents were asked to rate their agreement with 10 statements regarding quality of services of integrated and external specialty pharmacies on a 5-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). An analysis to determine differences in providers' overall satisfaction with the integrated and external specialty pharmacy practice models, as well as differences in satisfaction scores for each of the 10 statements, was performed using paired-samples t tests. RESULTS: The mean (SD) score for overall satisfaction with integrated specialty pharmacies was significantly higher than the score for satisfaction with external specialty pharmacies: 4.72 (0.58) vs 2.97 (1.20); 95% confidence interval, 1.64-1.87; P < 0.001. Provider ratings of the integrated specialty pharmacy model were also higher for all 10 items evaluating the quality of services (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: The study results confirm that the health-system integrated specialty pharmacy practice model promotes high rates of provider satisfaction with services and perceived benefits.
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Personal Satisfaction , Pharmaceutical Services , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Pharmacists , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Background: Physician satisfaction with telehealth during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is a strong indicator for future use. Validated surveys can guide improvement and future expansion of telehealth programs. Introduction: This study examines physician and advanced practice provider perspectives and satisfaction using telehealth at UPMC Pinnacle and to assess key predictors of future use in ambulatory care. Methods: A web-based Likert scale survey of UPMC Pinnacle physicians and advanced practice providers was conducted in May-June 2020. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure the survey's internal consistency. Crosstab analysis and multivariate regression were used to analyze the interrelationships between variables. Results: A significant majority (64%) of physicians responded positively that they enjoyed telehealth video visits. A majority (65%) felt that the physician-patient relationship was unimpaired during telehealth visits, but only 29% of the respondents felt they were able to examine the patients properly. Providers who experienced good video and audio quality were 3.68 times more likely to enjoy telehealth visits (p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval 2.05-6.61) than those with less-than-optimal video and audio quality. Logistic regression shows a strong correlation between the audio and image quality and respondents' satisfaction with telehealth. Discussion: The key barriers for patients when using telehealth are perceived to be the ability to use a smartphone app, password management, or video/microphone features. For clinicians, barriers include problems with seeing and hearing on the platform. Conclusions: Patient education and improvement of audio and image quality are essential for improving telehealth usage and satisfaction.