ABSTRACT
This paper analyses the impact of a healthy food nudge intervention on purchases of 1590 customers of a supermarket chain's loyalty program in Uruguay through a randomized controlled trial. Nudges were presented in the form of messages sent through WhatsApp to customers three times a week for 8 weeks (between July and September 2020). Messages highlighted the benefits of cooking at home and eating mindfully and healthy (vegetables, fruits, healthy snacks, legumes, and fish), and included easy to implement tips. Results show that, on average, customers assigned to the treatment group increased their purchases of healthy food by 8% and substituted sugar-sweetened for sugar-free beverages. We find an unintended increase in purchases of unhealthy food of 7%, with no correlative increase in calories, suggesting that customers substituted higher calorie products for lower calorie ones. We find that households with lower educational attainment, lower income, and with children under the age of 12 are more likely to increase purchases of fruits and vegetables, while other households are more likely to improve the diet quality without increasing expenditure. Effects do not persist after the intervention is over, suggesting that salience, rather than information is the main channel triggering the effects.
Subject(s)
Choice Behavior , Diet, Healthy , Supermarkets , Humans , Female , Male , Uruguay , Adult , Food Preferences , Middle Aged , Consumer Behavior , Health Promotion/methods , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
Resumen: Introducción: la pandemia provocada por la COVID-19 ha cambiado drásticamente las modalidades de atención médica ambulatoria y cuidado de la salud. Uruguay implementó, desde el 15 de marzo de 2020, una serie de cambios en el sistema de salud para focalizar los recursos disponibles y evitar contagios. Objetivo: presentar los resultados de la Encuesta sobre Salud y Acceso a Cuidados Médicos (ESAC) durante la emergencia sanitaria originada por el COVID-19 en Uruguay en el período desde el 13 de marzo al 30 de mayo de 2020. El objetivo es mostrar el impacto que la pandemia tuvo sobre algunos aspectos de la atención médica recibida. Material y métodos: la ESAC, dirigida a residentes en Uruguay mayores de 18 años, fue aplicada a través de un cuestionario autoadministrado por internet entre el 10 y el 27 de julio de 2020. La muestra total es de 1.750 encuestas y relevó información relativa a la salud y cuidados médicos. Resultados: la crisis sanitaria propició un cambio en la modalidad de la práctica clínica, con una alta participación de la telemedicina, la cual fue mayoritariamente definida por el centro de salud. Se encontró una alta satisfacción en la gestión y atención durante la pandemia. Sin embargo, destaca el alto porcentaje de estudios médicos, procedimientos o tratamientos en curso o previstos que fueron suspendidos o pospuestos. En el caso de los niños menores de 12 años, se encuentra que más de la mitad tuvo que retrasar alguna vacuna prevista. Conclusiones: en el futuro será necesario que el sistema de salud preste especial atención a la forma en que se definen e implementan las nuevas modalidades de consulta, tiempos de espera máximos, y la correcta atención a quienes padecen enfermedades crónicas, para garantizar el acceso a cuidados médicos oportunos y de calidad.
Summary: Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the outpatient medical care modalities and health care services in general. Since March 15, 2020, Uruguay has implemented changes in the health system aiming to focus the resources available and to avoid infection. Objective: to present the results of the survey on health and access to medical care (ESAC) during the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay from March 13 to May 20, 2020. The study aims to present the impact of the pandemic on several aspects in connection with health care services. Method: the ESAC survey, aimed at residents in Uruguay who are over 18 years old, consisted of a self-administered online questionnaire applied between 10 and 27 July, 2020. The total sample included 1750 surveys that assessed medical care and health services. Results: the health crisis favored changes in the clinical practice modalities, what was evident in the significant increase of telemedicine, what was mainly defined by each medical institution. The survey revealed a high degree of satisfaction among users, in terms of response to the pandemic and the services offered by their institutions. However, it is worth pointing out that a high percentage of medical tests, procedures or ongoing or intended therapies were cancelled or postponed. In the case of children under 12 years old, over half of them received their vaccinations later than what was expected. Conclusions: in the future, the health system must pay special attention to the way in which new consultation modalities are defined and implemented, as well as the maximum waiting times and the appropriate provision of services for chronic patients, to ensure access to timely and quality medical care.
Resumo: Introdução: a pandemia causada pela COVID 19 mudou dramaticamente as modalidades do atendimento médico ambulatorial e dos cuidados de saúde. O Uruguai, desde 15 de março de 2020, implementou uma série de mudanças no sistema de saúde com o objetivo de focar os recursos disponíveis e prevenir infecções. Objetivo: apresentar os resultados da Pesquisa de Saúde e Acesso à Assistência Médica (ESAC) durante a emergência sanitária causada pela COVID-19 no Uruguai de 13 de março a 30 de maio de 2020. O objetivo é mostrar o impacto que a pandemia teve sobre alguns aspectos do atendimento médico recebido. Material e métodos: a ESAC, destinado a residentes no Uruguai maiores de 18 anos, foi aplicada por meio de questionário autoaplicável na internet entre 10 e 27 de julho de 2020. A amostra total é de 1.750 inquéritos e informações coletadas relacionadas à saúde e aos cuidados médicos. Resultados: a crise de saúde levou a uma mudança na modalidade de prática clínica com alta participação da telemedicina, que era definida em grande parte pela instituição de saúde. Durante a pandemia se registrou uma elevada satisfação na gestão e cuidados de saúde. No entanto, destaca-se o alto percentual de exames, procedimentos ou tratamentos médicos em andamento ou planejados que foram suspensos ou adiados. No caso de crianças menores de 12 anos, verifica-se que mais da metade teve que adiar uma vacinação planejada. Conclusões: futuramente, será necessário que o sistema de saúde preste atenção especial à forma como são definidas e implementadas novas modalidades de consulta, tempos máximos de espera e o correto atendimento aos portadores de doenças crônicas, para garantir o acesso ao atendimento médico oportuno e de qualidade.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Health Services Accessibility , Pandemics , COVID-19ABSTRACT
Resumen La musicoterapia neurológica (NMT) está siendo implementada en hospitales y centros de neurorrehabilitación alrededor del mundo gracias a la abundante evidencia neurocientífica y al creciente interés por los efectos de la música en el cerebro. Siendo reconocida y avalada por la World Federation for Neurorehabilitation, la musicoterapia neurológica es utilizada como intervención no-farmacológica y no-invasiva para tratar a pacientes con trastornos neurológicos que presentan disfunciones cognitivas, motoras, y/o del lenguaje. Este artículo busca dar a conocer a esta disciplina como un método efectivo y basado en evidencia para tratar los desórdenes neurológicos.
Abstract Neurologic music therapy (NMT) is being implemented in hospitals and neurorehabilitation facilities around the world, thanks to the abundant neuroscience research and to the growing interest in the effects of music on the brain. Recognized and endorsed by the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation, neurologic music therapy is utilized as a non-pharmacological, non-invasive intervention to treat patients with neurologic disease that present cognitive, motor, and/or language impairments. This article aspires to introduce this discipline as an effective, evidence-based method of treatment for neurologic disease.
