Impact of COVID-19 on emergency department attendance in an Australia hospital: a parallel convergent mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people are accessing healthcare. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on emergency department (ED) attendance for frequent attenders and to explore potential reasons for changes in attendance. DESIGN: This convergent parallel mixed methods study comprised two parts. SETTING: An interrupted time-series analysis evaluated changes in ED presentation rates; interviews investigated reasons for changes for frequent ED users in a culturally and linguistically diverse setting. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4868 patients were included in the time series. A subgroup of 200 patients were interviewed, mean age 66 years (range 23-99). RESULTS: Interrupted time-series analysis from 4868 eligible participants showed an instantaneous decrease in weekly ED presentations by 36% (p<0.001), with reduction between 45% and 67% across emergency triage categories. 32% did not know they could leave home to seek care with differences seen in English versus non-English speakers (p<0.001). 35% reported postponing medical care. There was a high fear about the health system becoming overloaded (mean 4.2 (±2) on 6-point scale). Four key themes emerged influencing health-seeking behaviour: fear and/or avoidance of hospital care; use of telehealth for remote assessment; no fear or avoidance of hospital care; not leaving the house for any reason. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated reduced ED use by a vulnerable population of previously frequent attenders. COVID-19 has resulted in some fear and avoidance of hospitals, but has also offered new opportunity for alternative care through telehealth.

What is the evidence on existing policies and linked activities and their effectiveness for improving health literacy at national, regional and organizational levels in the WHO European Region? / Que sait-on de l'efficacité des politiques existantes et des activités en rapport avec celles-ci, s'agissant d'améliorer l'éducation sanitaire aux niveaux national, régional et organisationnel dans la Région européenne de l'OMS ?

Health literacy is gaining increasing attention as a means of promoting health. This evidence synthesis describes health literacy policies in the WHO European Region: their distribution, organizational levels, antecedents, actors, activities and outcomes, along with the factors influencing their effectiveness. Evidence was obtained by a scoping review of academic literature in English, Dutch and German and of grey literature in English, Dutch, German and Italian, supported by a Region-wide expert enquiry. Emerging findings were presented to representatives from 19 Member States of the Region to check for accuracy and omissions. The report highlights much good health literacy policy-related activity, mostly in the health and education sectors, and proposes areas for future development. Policy considerations to facilitate the sharing of good health literacy policy practice, the development of policy aims and activities across all societal areas, and the development of robust health literacy metrics to identify the need for and monitor effectiveness are presented.

Le Réseau des bases factuelles en santé (HEN) est un service d'information destiné aux décideurs dans le domaine de la santé publique de la Région européenne de l'OMS. Actif depuis 2003, instauré et coordonné par le Bureau régional de l'OMS pour l'Europe, le Réseau HEN est placé sous l'égide de l'Initiative européenne d'information sanitaire ­ un réseau de coordination des activités d'information sanitaire de la Région européenne, comportant de multiples partenaires. Le Réseau soutient les décideurs en santé publique dans leur prise de décisions, en leur apportant les meilleures bases factuelles disponibles, et vise à créer des liens entre les bases factuelles, les politiques sanitaires et une meilleure santé publique. La série des rapports de synthèse du Réseau HEN est constituée de résumés sur le savoir disponible sur une question particulière, les lacunes dans les bases factuelles et les domaines soumis à débat. Sur la base de ces informations factuelles synthétisées, le Réseau propose non des recommandations, mais des options pouvant être étudiées par les responsables politiques, leur permettant de formuler leurs propres recommandations et politiques en fonction de leur contexte national.