Implementation of initiatives designed to improve healthcare worker health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: comparative case studies from 13 healthcare provider organisations globally.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are at a disproportionate risk of contracting COVID-19. The physical and mental repercussions of such risk have an impact on the wellbeing of healthcare workers around the world. Healthcare workers are the foundation of all well-functioning health systems capable of responding to the ongoing pandemic; initiatives to address and reduce such risk are critical. Since the onset of the pandemic healthcare organizations have embarked on the implementation of a range of initiatives designed to improve healthcare worker health and wellbeing. METHODS: Through a qualitative collective case study approach where participants responded to a longform survey, the facilitators, and barriers to implementing such initiatives were explored, offering global insights into the challenges faced at the organizational level. 13 healthcare organizations were surveyed across 13 countries. Of these 13 participants, 5 subsequently provided missing information through longform interviews or written clarifications. RESULTS: 13 case studies were received from healthcare provider organizations. Mental health initiatives were the most commonly described health and wellbeing initiatives among respondents. Physical health and health and safety focused initiatives, such as the adaption of workspaces, were also described. Strong institutional level direction, including engaged leadership, and the input, feedback, and engagement of frontline staff were the two main facilitators in implementing initiatives. The most common barrier was HCWs' fear of contracting COVID-19 / fear of passing COVID-19 to family members. In organizations who discussed infection prevention and control initiatives, inadequate personal protective equipment and supply chain disruption were highlighted by respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Common themes emerge globally in exploring the enablers and barriers to implementing initiatives to improve healthcare workers health and wellbeing through the COVID-19 pandemic. Consideration of the themes outlined in the paper by healthcare organizations could help influence the design and deployment of future initiatives ahead of implementation.

Health Technology Assessment Institutions and Organizations： A Scoping Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

To understand the development status and provide the basis for the construction and development of health technology assessment （HTA） institutions/organizations in China， this paper systematically reviewed the status of international HTA institutions/organizations and the HTA institutions/organizations in western developed countries and some Asian countries. This study was based on the results of the second round of global survey on HTA conducted by the World Health Organization （WHO） in 2020/2021. The websites of WHO， International HTA Database （INAHTA）， international HTA institutions/organizations， and the HTA institutions/organizations in different countries were searched. After data extraction and classification， we summarized the status of 9 international HTA institutions/organizations （including Decide： Health Decision Hub， Health Technology Assessment International， HTAsiaLink， International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment， European Network for Health Technology Assessment， Health Technology Assessment Network of the Americas， International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research， Southern African Health Technology Assessment Society， International Information Network on New and Emerging Health Technologies）， 11 HTA institutions/organizations in western developed countries and Asian countries （including Canada， France， Germany， the United Kingdom， Australia， the United States， Japan， Malaysia， South Korea， Singapore， and Thailand）， and 6 HTA organizations/teams in China. The use of HTA varies greatly because of different medical and health systems among different countries， and thus the role of HTA in health decision-making varies among different countries. The international HTA institutions/organizations have greatly strengthened the communication between HTA institutions/organizations and the pharmaceutical industry and facilitated the promotion and practice of evidence-based health decision-making.