Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel: A Joint Position Statement of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring, and ASET-The Neurodiagnostic Society.

SUMMARY: The Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel (QNP) document has been created through the collaboration of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM), the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), and ASET-The Neurodiagnostic Society (ASET). The quality of patient care is optimized when neurophysiological procedures are performed and interpreted by appropriately trained and qualified practitioners at every level. These societies recognize that neurodiagnostics is a large field with practitioners who have entered the field through a variety of training paths. This document suggests job titles, associated job responsibilities, and the recommended levels of education, certification, experience, and ongoing education appropriate for each job. This is important because of the growth and development of standardized training programs, board certifications, and continuing education in recent years. This document matches training, education, and credentials to the various tasks required for performing and interpreting neurodiagnostic procedures. This document does not intend to restrict the practice of those already working in neurodiagnostics. It represents recommendations of these societies with the understanding that federal, state, and local regulations, as well as individual hospital bylaws, supersede these recommendations. Because neurodiagnostics is a growing and dynamic field, the authors fully intend this document to change over time.

Covid-19 Surveillance Testing and Resident Outcomes in Nursing Homes.

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread adoption of surveillance testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) among staff members in skilled nursing facilities, evidence is limited regarding its relationship with outcomes among facility residents. METHODS: Using data obtained from 2020 to 2022, we performed a retrospective cohort study of testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among staff members in 13,424 skilled nursing facilities during three pandemic periods: before vaccine approval, before the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant wave, and during the omicron wave. We assessed staff testing volumes during weeks without Covid-19 cases relative to other skilled nursing facilities in the same county, along with Covid-19 cases and deaths among residents during potential outbreaks (defined as the occurrence of a case after 2 weeks with no cases). We reported adjusted differences in outcomes between high-testing facilities (90th percentile of test volume) and low-testing facilities (10th percentile). The two primary outcomes were the weekly cumulative number of Covid-19 cases and related deaths among residents during potential outbreaks. RESULTS: During the overall study period, 519.7 cases of Covid-19 per 100 potential outbreaks were reported among residents of high-testing facilities as compared with 591.2 cases among residents of low-testing facilities (adjusted difference, -71.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], -91.3 to -51.6). During the same period, 42.7 deaths per 100 potential outbreaks occurred in high-testing facilities as compared with 49.8 deaths in low-testing facilities (adjusted difference, -7.1; 95% CI, -11.0 to -3.2). Before vaccine availability, high- and low-testing facilities had 759.9 cases and 1060.2 cases, respectively, per 100 potential outbreaks (adjusted difference, -300.3; 95% CI, -377.1 to -223.5), along with 125.2 and 166.8 deaths (adjusted difference, -41.6; 95% CI, -57.8 to -25.5). Before the omicron wave, the numbers of cases and deaths were similar in high- and low-testing facilities; during the omicron wave, high-testing facilities had fewer cases among residents, but deaths were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Greater surveillance testing of staff members at skilled nursing facilities was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in Covid-19 cases and deaths among residents, particularly before vaccine availability.

Improving Clinician Well-being and Patient Safety Through Human-Centered Design.

This Viewpoint discusses the need for clinicians to be involved in every stage of the development of patient safety interventions in order to not only improve patient care, but also maximize the interventions' effectiveness and ensure clinician well-being and buy-in.

Propuesta técnica de equipamiento para un teleconsultorio / Technical equipment proposal for a teleconsultation

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las acciones de telemedicina demostraron ser de gran utilidad, principalmente, durante la pandemia por coronavirus en 2019. Diversas instituciones, con el fin de dar continuidad a la atención de la población, optaron por la utilización de plataformas y herramientas tecnológicas que permitían realizar actividades a distancia como seguimiento, asesoría y consulta y, con ello, se respetaban y fomentaban las medidas para disminuir la propagación del virus del COVID-19, como la implementación de la sana distancia. Si bien, los servicios presenciales han regresado prácticamente a la normalidad, muchas actividades de atención a distancia se siguen realizando a través de plataformas tecnológicas; sobre todo, aquellas que por su poca complejidad no generan barreras adicionales y otorgan resultados de gran beneficio en salud para la población y las instituciones. Con el objetivo de que los servicios de atención a distancia se lleven a cabo con calidad, han surgido modelos y lineamientos que favorecen una mejor comunicación e interacción a través de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones, tanto para el cuidado de la salud como para temas generales. Además, se han propuesto una serie de recomendaciones operativas que mejoran la experiencia de las personas usuarias de los sistemas electrónicos. Estas recomendaciones son básicas y muchas veces obvias, pero si no son tomadas en cuenta pueden disminuir la calidad de la comunicación y, en el caso de la atención médica, la relación entre las personas beneficiarias y el personal de la salud que lo asiste a la distancia, puede verse disminuida. En este documento, se comentan aspectos para el manejo de la luz, posición de las cámaras y de los micrófonos, colores y texturas, todo con la finalidad de que el profesional de la salud obtenga una mejor información de la persona y la comunicación no se vea afectada por artefactos, sombras, ruidos y alguna situación imprevista mientras se lleva a cabo la atención a distancia. ALCANCE: Las recomendaciones descritas están encaminadas a ser utilizadas, primordialmente, durante cualquier videoconferencia o teleconsulta, además, pueden aplicar para diversas acciones de atención médica a distancia. Se requiere inversión para acondicionar los espacios donde se encontrará el equipo de trabajo que atiende de forma remota, y creatividad para utilizar la infraestructura existente en aquellos casos donde no es posible realizar un gasto adicional en el corto tiempo, en ocasiones es suficiente con incorporar adecuadamente elementos con los que ya cuenta la unidad y con una mejor redistribución de los espacios y ubicación de los equipos. RELACIÓN CON EL MODELO DE LA UNIDAD DE CONTACTO PARA LA ATENCIÓN A DISTANCIA EM SALUD (UCADS): Con el objetivo de fortalecer el primer nivel de atención, se establecen estrategias para una mejor comunicación y organización entre las redes de atención. Para ello, se desarrollan modelos a distancia basados en la calidad y el acercamiento con la población y no enfocados exclusivamente, en el diagnóstico o entrega de un tratamiento. Esto permite una relación más estrecha entre las personas beneficiarias y personal de salud, antes de sus consultas y posterior a ellas. El modelo de atención, basado exclusivamente en la teleconsulta, se modifica notoriamente. Se incorporan más actores como enfermeras, auxiliares, promotores de salud y su participación es mucho más amplia. Por lo tanto, cobra mayor importância conocer criterios para mejorar la calidad del servicio basados en tecnologías digitales, e independientemente del tipo de equipo con el que se logre establecer contacto, y de la modalidad de la atención (seguimiento, asesoría o consulta). En todos los casos, es fundamental cuidar aspectos como la privacidad de las personas beneficiarias, el manejo adecuado de la seguridad de la información, un canal de audio claro y sin ruido externo, una imagen lo más parecida y cercana a la realidad y una ubicación que permita total concentración para una mejor toma de decisiones. PROPUESTA TÉCNICA DE EQUIPAMIENTO PARA UN TELECONSULTORIO: Consultorio de telemedicina o teleconsultorio: "Espacio físico en el centro remisor con acceso a internet y flujo eléctrico donde se instalan los equipos para prestar el servicio de telemedicina." ESCENARIOS DE ACONDICIONAMIENTO DE ESPACIOS FÍSICO: Se considera que, en ambas propuestas, se cuente con un mínimo de mobiliario y materiales dentro del consultorio médico, con base en un análisis inicial.

Informal Providers-Ground Realities in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Nations: Toward Better Cancer Primary Care: A Narrative Review.

PURPOSE: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations are a group of eight countries with low to medium Human Development Index values. They lack trained human resources in primary health care to achieve the WHO-stated goal of Universal Health Coverage. An unregulated service sector of informal health care providers (IPs) has been serving these underserved communities. The aim is to summarize the role of IPs in primary cancer care, compare quality with formal providers, quantify distribution in urban and rural settings, and present the socioeconomic milieu that sustains their existence. METHODS: A narrative review of the published literature in English from January 2000 to December 2021 was performed using MeSH Terms Informal Health Care Provider/Informal Provider and Primary Health Care across databases such as Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, and Cochrane database of systematic reviews, as well as World Bank, Center for Global Development, American Economic Review, Journal Storage, and Web of Science. In addition, citation lists from the primary articles, gray literature in English, and policy blogs were included. We present a descriptive overview of our findings as applicable to SAARC. RESULTS: IPs across the rural landscape often comprise more than 75% of primary caregivers. They provide accessible and affordable, but often substandard quality of care. However, their network would be suitable for prompt cancer referrals. Care delivery and accountability correlate with prevalent standards of formal health care. CONCLUSION: Acknowledgment and upskilling of IPs could be a cost-effective bridge toward universal health coverage and early cancer diagnosis in SAARC nations, whereas state capacity for training formal health care providers is ramped up simultaneously. This must be achieved without compromising investment in the critical resource of qualified doctors and allied health professionals who form the core of the rural public primary health care system.

Eficacia y seguridad del equipo de aspiración de vacío extraoral para prevenir la infección por Sars-cov-2 en personal sanitario expuesto durante procedimientos estomatológicos / Efficacy and safety of extraoral vacuum aspiration equipment to prevent Sars-cov-2 infection in healthcare personnel exposed during stomatological procedures

ANTECEDENTES: El presente documento expone la evaluación de la eficacia y seguridad del equipo de aspiración de vacío extraoral en comparación con el eyector de saliva o el aspirador de secreción con flujo de succión no menor a 50 L/min (actualmente disponibles en la institución), para prevenir la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en personal sanitario expuesto durante procedimientos estomatológicos. ASPECTOS GENERALES: La pandemia por la enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) ha tenido un impacto significativo en la atención odontológica (Abdelrahman et al. 2021; Cagetti et al. 2021). En diversos países, la atención odontológica ambulatoria fue interrumpida al inicio de la pandemia, a excepción de la atención de emergencia y urgencia dental (Abdelrahman et al. 2021; Cagetti et al. 2021). Esta interrupción de las atenciones odontológicas se debió a que 14,tc. 1 el cuidado dental implica un contacto cercano con el paciente durante periodos de tiempo "or prolongados, lo que genera preocupación sobre la transmisión del SARS-CoV-2 a través de la generación de aerosoles durante los procedimientos estomatológicos (Meng, Hua, and Bian 2020; Peng et al. 2020). De acuerdo con los Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), los dispositivos dentales que generan aerosoles y contaminan el aire incluyen al raspador ultrasónico, la pieza de mano dental de alta velocidad, jeringa de aire o agua, pulido y abrasión por aire (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2022). Estos procedimientos generan una mezcla de aerosoles y gotitas (miden 0.001 a 50 pm de diámetro) que contienen sangre y saliva con diversos patógenos (T. S. Singh and Mabe 2009), lo que genera un ambiente con alto potencial de transmisión de enfermedades como la COVID-19 (Peng et al. 2020). En base a este aumento del riesgo de transmisión de SARS-CoV-2 en los trabajadores de salud, los responsables de formular políticas y los equipos clínicos han optado por reevaluar y adaptar la atención odontológica en respuesta a los desafíos de la pandemia por COVID-19 (World Health Organization 2020b). METODOLOGÍA: La búsqueda sistemática se realizó en las bases de datos bibliográficas PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science y LILACS (Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud). Asimismo, se realizó una búsqueda en las páginas web de grupos o instituciones que realizan revisiones sistemáticas (RS), evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias (ETS) y guías de práctica clínica (GPC), tales como el National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), la Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), el Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), la Haute Authorité de Santé (HAS), el Institute for Quality and Efficiency in HealthCare (IQWiG), el Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) yen la Base Regional de Informes de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud de las Américas (BRISA), y en las principales instituciones o sociedades especializadas en odontología: la American Dental Association y la British Dental Association. Adicionalmente, se llevó a cabo una búsqueda manual en el motor de búsqueda Google utilizando los términos: (("extra-oral" OR extraoral) AND (vacuum OR aspirator OR suction) AND (COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2)) y (("extra-oral" OR extraoral) AND (vacuum OR aspirator OR suction) AND (virus OR viral)); revisando en las diez primeras páginas de resultados, a fin de poder identificar otras publicaciones de relevancia que pudiesen haber sido omitidas por la estrategia de búsqueda o que no hayan sido publicadas en las bases de datos bibliográficas consideradas. Finalmente, se realizó una búsqueda manual de las referencias de los estudios que ingresaron a la fase de texto completo, así como una búsqueda manual en la plataforma ClinicalTrials.gov para identificar ensayos clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) en curso o que no hayan sido publicados aún. RESULTADOS: GPC: gula de práctica clínica; ETS: evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias; RS: revisión sistemática; ECA: ensayo clínico aleatorizado; EO: estudio observacional; LILACS: Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud; BRISA: Base Regional de Informes de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud de las Américas; JDA: Japan Dental Association, NHS: National Health Service. Flujograma adaptado de: Page MJ, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71. CONCLUSIONES: El presente dictamen preliminar tuvo por objetivo realizar una evaluación sobre la eficacia y seguridad del equipo de aspiración de vacío extraoral en comparación con el eyector de saliva y el aspirador de secreción con flujo de succión no menor a 50 L/min (actualmente disponibles en la institución), para prevenir la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en personal sanitario expuesto durante procedimientos estomatológicos. Se identificaron una GPC (Hoshi et al.) y cinco documentos de recomendación realizados por Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Dental Council of India, Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria y Government of Canada relevantes para el tema. La GPC emite una recomendación sobre la tecnología de interés; sin embargo, esta recomendación tuvo un muy bajo nivel de evidencia y recomendación débil debido a que se basó en un único estudio de simulación, lo cual no permite extrapolar los resultados a un entorno clínico de la vida real con pacientes o personal de salud. Ninguno de los documentos de recomendación incluidos emite recomendaciones sobre la intervención de interés (equipo de aspiración de vacío extraoral), sino que hacen referencia a los dispositivos evacuadores de alto volumen que son de uso intraoral, diferentes a lo solicitado. Asimismo, recomiendan otras medidas que se deben tomar en cuenta para mitigar la transmisión de enfermedades durante procedimientos generadores de aerosoles, donde destacan el uso de diques dentales, uso de equipo de protección personal adecuado, odontología a cuatro manos, y enjuagues bucales con clorhexidina. En el documento del MINSA, destacan una serie de disposiciones que deben instaurarse al momento de realizar una atención odontológica. Dentro de estas disposiciones destacan las medidas que debe utilizar el personal de salud dental antes, durante y después de la atención (principalmente, el uso del equipo de protección personal), en los establecimientos odontológicos (como una ventilación adecuada) y el esquema de vacunación completo del personal de salud. Las acciones combinadas tendrían un impacto positivo en la prevención de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Por lo expuesto, el !ETS' no aprueba el uso del equipo de aspiración de vacío extraoral para prevenir la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en personal sanitario expuesto durante procedimientos estomatológicos.

Data Cleaning Process for mHealth Log Data to Inform Health Worker Performance.

Log data, captured during use of mobile health (mHealth) applications by health providers, can play an important role in informing nature of user engagement with the application. The log data can also be employed in understanding health provider work patterns and performance. However, given that these logs are raw data, they require robust cleaning and curation if accurate conclusions are to be derived from analyzing them. This paper describes a systematic data cleaning process for mHealth-derived logs based on Broeck's framework, which involves iterative screening, diagnosis, and treatment of the log data. For this study, log data from the demonstrative mUzima mHealth application are used. The employed data cleaning process uncovered data inconsistencies, duplicate logs, missing data within logs that required imputation, among other issues. After the data cleaning process, only 39,229 log records out of the initial 91,432 usage logs (42.9%) could be included in the final dataset suitable for analyses of health provider work patterns. This work highlights the significance of having a systematic data cleaning approach for log data to derive useful information on health provider work patterns and performance.

Oilcloth sessions as an implementation strategy: a qualitative study in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore healthcare professionals, managers, and other key employees' experiences of oilcloth sessions as a strategy when implementing new emergency departments in Denmark, based on their participations in these sessions. The study addresses the importance of securing alignment in implementation strategies. Too often, this does not get enough attention in the literature and in practice. In this study, alignment among components was achieved in an educational implementation strategy called oilcloth sessions. METHODS: The study is based on participants' observations of 13 oilcloth sessions and follow-up via 53 semi-structured interviews with the board of directors, managers, and key employees from the present emergency department and different specialty departments. Data were analysed deductively using Biggs and Tang's model of didactic alignment. RESULTS: The analysis showed the complexity of challenges when using oilcloth sessions as a strategy when implementing a new emergency department described in terms of three phases and nine main themes (a-i): the preparation phase: (a) preparing individually and collectively, (b) objectives, (c) involving participants, (d) selecting cases; the execution phase: (e) using materials, (f) facilitating the sessions, (g) temporal structures; evaluation: (h) following up on the sessions, (i) adapting to the context. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that it is important to ensure alignment among elements in implementation strategies. Thus, oilcloth sessions with high alignment are useful if the challenges experienced are to be overcome and the strategy will be experienced as a useful way to support the implementation of a new emergency department from the participants' point of view. Bigg and Tang's didactic model is useful as an analytical framework to ensure alignment in implementation strategies in general.

Preparedness of tertiary care hospitals to implement the national TB infection prevention and control guidelines in Bangladesh: A qualitative exploration.

In high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, health settings, including non-designated TB hospitals, host many patients with pulmonary TB. Bangladesh's National TB Control Program aims to strengthen TB infection prevention and control (IPC) in health settings. However, there has been no published literature to date that assessed the preparedness of hospitals to comply with the recommendations. To address this gap, our study examined healthcare workers knowledge and attitudes towards TB IPC guidelines and their perceptions regarding the hospitals' preparedness in Bangladesh. Between January to December 2019, we conducted 16 key-informant interviews and four focus group discussions with healthcare workers from two public tertiary care hospitals. In addition, we undertook a review of 13 documents [i.e., hospital policy, annual report, staff list, published manuscript]. Our findings showed that healthcare workers acknowledged the TB risk and were willing to implement the TB IPC measures but identified key barriers impacting implementation. Gaps were identified in: policy (no TB policy or guidelines in the hospital), health systems (healthcare workers were unaware of the guidelines, lack of TB IPC program, training and education, absence of healthcare-associated TB infection surveillance, low priority of TB IPC, no TB IPC monitoring and feedback, high patient load and bed occupancy, and limited supply of IPC resources) and behavioural factors (risk perception, compliance, and self and social stigma). The additional service-level gap was the lack of electronic medical record systems. These findings highlighted that while there is a demand amongst healthcare workers to implement TB IPC measures, the public tertiary care hospitals have got key issues to address. Therefore, the National TB Control Program may consider these gaps, provide TB IPC guidelines to these hospitals, assist them in developing hospital-level IPC manual, provide training, and coordinate with the ministry of health to allocate separate budget, staffing, and IPC resources to implement the control measures successfully.

Infection control in the intensive care unit: expert consensus statements for SARS-CoV-2 using a Delphi method.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, health-care workers and uninfected patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 as a result of transmission from infected patients and health-care workers. In the absence of high-quality evidence on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, clinical practice of infection control and prevention in ICUs varies widely. Using a Delphi process, international experts in intensive care, infectious diseases, and infection control developed consensus statements on infection control for SARS-CoV-2 in an ICU. Consensus was achieved for 31 (94%) of 33 statements, from which 25 clinical practice statements were issued. These statements include guidance on ICU design and engineering, health-care worker safety, visiting policy, personal protective equipment, patients and procedures, disinfection, and sterilisation. Consensus was not reached on optimal return to work criteria for health-care workers who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 or the acceptable disinfection strategy for heat-sensitive instruments used for airway management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Well designed studies are needed to assess the effects of these practice statements and address the remaining uncertainties.

Teaming: learning, competing, and innovating in the world of reproductive medicine.

Healthcare teams must be deliberately cultivated to reach their full potential. Shifting focus from individual performance to a team's collective competence allows for targeted and evidence-based interventions that support teamwork and improve patient outcomes. We reviewed essential concepts drawn from team science and explored the practical applications of teaming. Reproductive endocrinology and infertility healthcare providers play a pivotal role by teaching, modeling, and fostering teaming attitudes and behaviors. Through teaming, we can maximize our teams' ability to learn, innovate, compete with other teams, and thrive in today's healthcare environment.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals working in prenatal diagnosis toward expanded non-invasive prenatal testing in China.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in prenatal diagnosis toward expanded non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in China. METHODS: We conducted a national online survey among HCPs working in prenatal diagnosis, including specialists in prenatal diagnosis and foetal medicine, obstetricians and gynaecologists, nurses in obstetrics and gynaecology, obstetric ultrasound doctors, and technicians in prenatal diagnosis laboratories. A total of 1882 questionnaires were collected, among which 1822 questionnaires met the research criteria and were included in the analysis. RESULTS: More than 99% of all participants opted for NIPT for trisomies 21, 18, and 13. The rates of support for expanded NIPT for sex chromosome aneuploidies, rare autosomal trisomies, microdeletions and microduplications, and single-gene disorders were 93.9%, 88.6%, 89.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. Specialists in prenatal diagnosis and foetal medicine had greater knowledge but were less likely to support expanded NIPT compared to other participants. Knowledge increased with educational level, whereas support for expanded NIPT decreased with educational level. CONCLUSIONS: More than 80% of HCPs working in prenatal diagnosis in China expressed support for expanding NIPT to conditions other than common trisomies. The degree of knowledge was negatively associated with the rate of support.

Determinants of childbirth care quality along the care continuum in limited resource settings: A structural equation modeling analysis of cross-sectional data from Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the important increase in in-facility births, perinatal mortality rates have remained high and slow to decrease in many developing countries. This situation is attributed to poor childbirth care quality. The reason why women delivering in health facilities do not always receive care of an adequate standard is unclear. We assessed the determinants of childbirth care quality along the care continuum by means of different approaches. METHODS: A health facility-based cross-sectional study with a direct observation of health care workers' practices while caring for mother-newborn pairs was carried out in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. The performance of a set of essential best practices (EBPs) was assessed in each birth event at the admission, prepushing and immediate postpartum stages. A quality score, in the form of the additive sum of EBPs effectively delivered, was computed for each stage. We used negative binomial regression models and a structural equation modeling analysis to assess the determinants of care quality at each stage and the relationships of the quality delivered at the different stages, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 532 and 627 mother-newborn pairs were evaluated in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, respectively. In both countries, delivery care quality varied significantly at all stages between health districts. Predelivery care quality was consistently higher in referral hospitals than in primary health care facilities (incident rate ratio (IRR) = 1.02, p < 0.05, and IRR = 1.10, p < 0.05, respectively, for Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire). Quality at admission was poorer among nurses than among midwives in Burkina Faso (IRR = 0.81, p < 0.001). Quality at the admission and predelivery stages was positively correlated with immediate postpartum care quality (ß = 0.48, p < 0.001, and ß = 0.29, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Quality improvement strategies must target both providers and health facilities, and different inputs are needed depending on the stage in the care continuum.

Case management programs for people with complex needs: Towards better engagement of community pharmacies and community-based organisations.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were 1) to describe how case management programs engaged community pharmacies and community-based organisations in a perspective of integrated care for people with complex needs, and 2) to identify enablers, barriers and potential strategies for this engagement. METHODS: Using a descriptive qualitative design, individual interviews and focus groups with patients, healthcare providers and managers were analysed according to a mixed thematic analysis based on a deductive (Rainbow Model of Integrated Care) and an inductive approach. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Participants highlighted the individualized service plan as a significant tool to foster a shared person-focused vision of care, information exchanges and concerted efforts. Openness to collaboration was also considered as an enabler for community stakeholders' engagement. The lack of recognition of community-based organisations by certain providers and the time required to participate in individualized service plans were outlined as barriers to professional integration. Limited opportunities for community stakeholders to be involved in decision-making within case management programs were reported as another constraint to their engagement. Cultural differences between organisations regarding the focus of the intervention (psychosocial vs healthcare needs) and differences in bureaucratic structures and funding mechanisms may negatively affect community stakeholders' engagement. Formal consultation mechanisms and improvement of communication channels between healthcare providers and community stakeholders were suggested as ways to overcome these barriers. CONCLUSION: Efforts to improve care integration in case management programs should be directed toward the recognition of community stakeholders as co-producers of care and co-builders of social policies across the entire care continuum for people with complex needs.

Health Care-Acquired Viral Respiratory Diseases.

Health care-acquired viral respiratory infections are common and cause increased patient morbidity and mortality. Although the threat of viral respiratory infection has been underscored by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, respiratory viruses have a significant impact in health care settings even under normal circumstances. Studies report decreased nosocomial transmission when aggressive infection control measures are implemented, with more success noted when using a multicomponent approach. Influenza vaccination of health care personnel furthers decrease rates of transmission; thus, mandatory vaccination is becoming more common. This article discusses the epidemiology, transmission, and control of health care-associated respiratory viral infections.

The integration of mental health care act in primary care: an audit of the use of mental health care act forms for patients´ admission and the effect of continuing medical education on health professionals´ performance of usage, based on Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital´s experience, in Maun, Botswana.

INTRODUCTION: despite the adoption of mental disorders act in 1972, the use of required mental health care act (MHCA) forms during admission of patients with mental illnesses remained below the legal expectation in the Maun District Hospital. This study audited Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital (LIIMH) professionals´ usage of MHCA forms. METHODS: this was a quasi-experimental study that audited files of patients admitted with mental illnesses, before, three and six months after a continuing medical education (CME). Cochran Q, McNemar symmetry Chi-square were used for comparison of performance. RESULTS: of the 239 eligible files, we accessed 235 (98.3%). About two in ten (n=36/235, 15.3%) MHCA forms were not used in combination with required forms. The quasi-majority of MHCA forms set used, aligned with involuntary admission (n=134/137, 97.8%). Required admission MHCA forms significantly increased from nil before continuing medical education (CME-0), to 64.6% (n=51/79) at CME-3 and 77% (n=59/77) at CME-6 (p<0.001). However, there was no statistical difference between the last two periods (64.6% vs 77%, p=0.164). Voluntary admission remained below 13% (n=10/79). Only six types of MHCA forms were used during this study. CONCLUSION: there was no adequate use of required MHCA forms at LIIMH before CME. Thereafter, the proportion of adequate use increased from period CME-0 to the periods CME-3 and CME-6. However, there was no difference in proportion between the last two periods. We recommend an effective and regular CME twice a year for health professionals on selected MHCA forms.

The role of Environmental Health in preventing antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly becoming a threat to global public health, not least in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where it is contributing to longer treatment for illnesses, use of higher generation drugs, more expenditure on antimicrobials, and increased deaths attributed to what should be treatable diseases. Some of the known causes of AMR include misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in both humans and animals, unnecessary use of antimicrobials in animals as growth promoters, and lack of awareness among the public on how to protect antimicrobials. As a result, resistant organisms are circulating in the wider environment, and there is a need to consider the One Health approach to minimise the continuing development of AMR. Environmental Health, specifically water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), waste management, and food hygiene and safety, are key components of One Health needed to prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms particularly in LMICs and reduce the AMR threat to global public health. The key Environmental Health practices in the prevention of AMR include: (1) adequate WASH through access and consumption of safe water; suitable containment, treatment and disposal of human excreta and other wastewater including from health facilities; good personal hygiene practices such as washing hands with soap at critical times to prevent the spread of resistant microorganisms, and contraction of illnesses which may require antimicrobial treatment; (2) proper disposal of solid waste, including the disposal of unused and expired antimicrobials to prevent their unnecessary exposure to microorganisms in the environment; and (3) ensuring proper food hygiene and safety practices, such as sale and consumption of animal products in which adequate antimicrobial withdrawal periods have been observed, and growing vegetables on unpolluted soil. Environmental Health is therefore crucial in the prevention of infectious diseases that would require antimicrobials, reducing the spread of resistant organisms, and exposure to antimicrobial residues in LMICs. Working with other professionals in One Health, Environmental Health Practitioners have a key role in reducing the spread of AMR including health education and promotion, surveillance, enforcement of legislation, and research.