"The needs of women in the postpartum period: A scoping review."

BACKGROUND: The postpartum period is critical and challenging for women, implying emotional, physical, social and spiritual changes. For a positive postpartum experience, it is important to receive consistent information and support from health professionals. However, this is not always the case, as care is more focused on the newborn, forgetting the needs of the puerperal woman. AIM: The review aimed to map the published scientific knowledge about women's needs in the postpartum period. METHODS: A Scoping Review was carried out, according to the method proposed by The Joanna Briggs Institute, in the MEDLINE Complete, MedicLatina and CINAHL Complete databases, and were selected articles since 2017 that answered the research question "What is the available evidence on women's needs in the postpartum period?". For the selection of articles, the eligibility criteria were defined. RESULTS: A total of 6,647 articles were identified. After the exclusion of duplicate articles and the application of the eligibility criteria, at the end of the process, 27 articles were included in the review. The extracted data were grouped into four categories, which summarize the needs of women in the postpartum period: support, sharing, care and preparation for the postpartum period. CONCLUSION: In the articles analysed, women reveal that they do not feel prepared for the postpartum period and identify several unmet needs, so health education and parenting skills training during pregnancy are essential to improve the postpartum experience and the transition to parenthood.

Expectations and needs of patients with esophageal cancer during curative treatment regarding self-management, self-management support and eHealth: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Self-management is an essential component of the curative treatment trajectory of esophageal cancer patients. The aims of this study were to explore expectations and needs of esophageal cancer patients during curative treatment regarding self-management, relevant aspects of self-management in which they need additional support, and to explore their willingness to use eHealth. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with esophageal cancer patients, who had been treated with neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy followed by surgery, maximally 1 year after surgery. Based on the general model of self-management, the following themes were discussed: experience-based knowledge, contribution to care, living with the condition, and organization of care and support. A stepwise systematic text condensation guided the data analysis. RESULTS: All four domains of the general model of self-management were identified. All participants described a remarkable difference between the pre-operative pathway, when it felt like they were taken by the hand, and the postoperative pathway, when it felt like they were thrown into the deep end. They adjusted to their new life situation by learning new experiences, while dealing with their diminished confidence in their bodies. Patients expressed the need for support from different sources, and were open to the idea of using eHealth in addition to usual care. (digital) Self-management support should be easily accessible, person-centered, confidential, and include personal contact. CONCLUSION: Differences were found among esophageal cancer patients regarding self-management, self-management support and eHealth for self-management purposes, indicating there is no one approach that will meet the needs of all patients at all times.

Towards reliable forecasting of healthcare capacity needs: A scoping review and evidence mapping.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of robust healthcare capacity planning and preparedness for emerging crises. However, healthcare systems must also adapt to more gradual temporal changes in disease prevalence and demographic composition over time. To support proactive healthcare planning, statistical capacity forecasting models can provide valuable information to healthcare planners. This systematic literature review and evidence mapping aims to identify and describe studies that have used statistical forecasting models to estimate healthcare capacity needs within hospital settings. METHOD: Studies were identified in the databases MEDLINE and Embase and screened for relevance before items were defined and extracted within the following categories: forecast methodology, measure of capacity, forecast horizon, healthcare setting, target diagnosis, validation methods, and implementation. RESULTS: 84 studies were selected, all focusing on various capacity outcomes, including number of hospital beds/ patients, staffing, and length of stay. The selected studies employed different analytical models grouped in six items; discrete event simulation (N = 13, 15 %), generalized linear models (N = 21, 25 %), rate multiplication (N = 15, 18 %), compartmental models (N = 14, 17 %), time series analysis (N = 22, 26 %), and machine learning not otherwise categorizable (N = 12, 14 %). The review further provides insights into disease areas with infectious diseases (N = 24, 29 %) and cancer (N = 12, 14 %) being predominant, though several studies forecasted healthcare capacity needs in general (N = 24, 29 %). Only about half of the models were validated using either temporal validation (N = 39, 46 %), cross-validation (N = 2, 2 %) or/and geographical validation (N = 4, 5 %). CONCLUSION: The forecasting models' applicability can serve as a resource for healthcare stakeholders involved in designing future healthcare capacity estimation. The lack of routine performance validation of the used algorithms is concerning. There is very little information on implementation and follow-up validation of capacity planning models.

[Factors associated with the care needs of the older adults based on different disability levels].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors associated with the care needs of the older adults aged 65-105 by age groups, and to compare these factors across different age groups. METHODS: A total of 12 244 older adults from the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey (CLHLS) conducted in 2018 were included in the analyses. The participants were categorized into three age groups: young-old (aged 65-79), middle-old (aged 80-89), and oldest-old (aged 90-105). The level of disability was measured by the disability index (DI) in four dimensions, reflecting their care needs. Potential factors associated with care needs were selected based on the health ecological model (HEM), including perspectives of personal characteristics, behavioral characteristics, interpersonal network, living and working conditions, and policy environment. Multifactor analysis was performed using multinomial Logistic regression. RESULTS: Among China ' s 12 244 older adults, 43.4% had medium or high care needs. Factors for higher care needs of older adults included higher age, higher number of chronic diseases, no exercise habit, excessive sleep duration (≥9 h/d), depressive tendency, living with children or spouse, and uneducated (all P < 0.05). In addition, the young-old group who were past smokers (OR=2.009, 95% CI: 1.019-3.959), were past drinkers (OR=2.213, 95% CI: 1.141-4.291), and reported self-perceived poverty (OR=2.051, 95% CI: 1.189-3.540), had higher level of care needs. The middle-old group who were female (OR=1.373, 95% CI: 1.038-1.817), never drank alcohol (OR=1.551, 95% CI: 1.059-2.269), and were lack of medical insurance (OR=1.598, 95% CI: 1.053-2.426), and had higher level of care needs. The oldest-old group who were female (medium care needs vs. low care needs: OR=1.412, 95% CI: 1.062-1.878; high care needs vs. low care needs: OR=1.506, 95% CI: 1.137-1.993), reported self-perceived poverty (OR=2.064, 95% CI: 1.282-3.323), and were lack of medical insurance (OR=1.621, 95% CI: 1.148-2.291), and had higher level of care needs. CONCLUSION: The identical factors associated with care needs across different age groups include age, chronic disease, exercise, sleep, depression, living arrangement, and education. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and economic status are specific factors among the young-old group of the older adults, while gender and medical insurance are specific factors among the middle-old and the oldest-old group of the older adults. We recommend conducting prospective cohort studies and intervention studies among specific age groups on the above factors to provide reliable evidence for policy formulation.

Care seeking for childhood illnesses in rural Mtwara, south-east Tanzania: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Care seeking was assessed in preparation for a study of the health impact of novel design houses in rural Mtwara, Tanzania. METHODS: A total of 578 residents of 60 villages participated in this mixed-methods study from April to August 2020. Among them, 550 participated in a healthcare-seeking survey, 17 in in-depth interviews and 28 in key informant interviews. RESULTS: The decision to seek care was based on symptom severity (95.4% [370]). Caregivers first visited non-allopathic healthcare providers or were treated at home, which led to delays in seeking care at healthcare facilities. More than one-third (36.0% [140]) of respondents took >12 h seeking care at healthcare facilities. The majority (73.0% [282]) visited healthcare facilities, whereas around one-fifth (21.0% [80]) sought care at drug stores. Treatment costs deterred respondents from visiting healthcare facilities (61.4% [338]). Only 10 (3.6%) of the households surveyed reported that they were covered by health insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of care, related to institutional factors, impacts timely care seeking for childhood illnesses in Mtwara, Tanzania. Ensuring accessibility of facilities is therefore not sufficient.

Community resource facilitation use by ethnic minority groups with traumatic brain injury in the Midwestern United States.

OBJECTIVE: This study surveyed the use of community-based resource facilitation (RF) services by ethnic minority survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) living in the Midwestern United States. METHOD: Past records of RF use by survivors of TBI were reviewed. Demographics and patterns of RF use across 3 ethnic groups were documented. Reported barriers to community integration related to ethnic identity were identified using Chi-square test of independence. RESULTS: Ethnic minority survivors were less likely to use RF services than white survivors. Caucasian women and men utilized RF services at similar rates, whereas more African American men and Latina women used RF services. Caucasians received information about RF from a greater variety of sources than ethnic minority survivors. Ethnic identity was significantly associated with greater reported needs for TBI awareness. CONCLUSIONS: A pattern of differential RF use by survivors from ethnic minority groups was noted, suggesting potential socio-cultural influences on help-seeking behavior after TBI. These factors should be considered to develop more accessible and equitable strategies of RF service referral and support. Future investigations of cultural perspectives of TBI and injury-related services may improve understanding of the likelihood and necessity of community-based RF service use by diverse populations.

Disparities in Unmet Health Care Needs Among US Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted pediatric health care in the United States, and this disruption layered on existing barriers to health care. We sought to characterize disparities in unmet pediatric health care needs during this period. METHODS: We analyzed data from Wave 1 (October through November 2020) and Wave 2 (March through May 2021) of the COVID Experiences Survey, a national longitudinal survey delivered online or via telephone to parents of children aged 5 through 12 years using a probability-based sample representative of the US household population. We examined 3 indicators of unmet pediatric health care needs as outcomes: forgone care and forgone well-child visits during fall 2020 through spring 2021, and no well-child visit in the past year as of spring 2021. Multivariate models examined relationships of child-, parent-, household-, and county-level characteristics with these indicators, adjusting for child's age, sex, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: On the basis of parent report, 16.3% of children aged 5 through 12 years had forgone care, 10.9% had forgone well-child visits, and 30.1% had no well-child visit in the past year. Adjusted analyses identified disparities in indicators of pediatric health care access by characteristics at the level of the child (eg, race/ethnicity, existing health conditions, mode of school instruction), parent (eg, childcare challenges), household (eg, income), and county (eg, urban-rural classification, availability of primary care physicians). Both child and parent experiences of racism were also associated with specific indicators of unmet health care needs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the need for continued research examining unmet health care needs and for continued efforts to optimize the clinical experience to be culturally inclusive.

Long- and short-term frequent attenders' perceptions of patient-centredness in Finnish primary healthcare: A cross-sectional survey and the equivalence of the factor structure of the 36-item patient-centred primary care instrument.

AIM: The study aimed to compare long- and short-term frequent attenders' (FAs) perceptions of patient-centredness and to assess the equivalence of the factor structure of patient-centred primary care (PCPC) instrument for long- and short-term FAs. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of long-term (n = 234) and short-term (n = 261) FAs within the primary healthcare of one city in Finland. The data collected in January-July 2020 via 'the 36-item PCPC instrument' were analysed using Pearson's chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Cronbach's alpha, and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA). RESULTS: Long-term FAs had worse perceptions of patient-centredness than short-term FAs across all subscales: patients' preferences, physical comfort, coordination of care, continuity and transition, emotional support, access to care, information and education, and family and friends. The MGCFA indicated a good fit for the predicted eight-factor model. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term FAs' care needs are currently not being met, indicating the need for considering how the way healthcare services are arranged and care is provided affects prolonged and high care needs. Various dimensions of patient-centredness need to be addressed when developing not only FAs' care but also wider service paths. A distinction should be made between long- and short-term frequent attendance when identifying and addressing FAs' service needs.

Effects of disability-related limitations in daily living on unmet needs: a longitudinal-study1.

BACKGROUND: Unmet health needs are particularly important to people with disabilities; however, these unmet needs owing to limitations in daily life have been under-researched thus far. This study examined the effects of disability-related limitations in daily life on unmet needs. METHODS: This study included 5,074 adults with disabilities from the 2018-2020 Korea Disability and Life Dynamics Panel. We analyzed the effects of disability-related limitations in daily life on unmet needs using logistic regression with a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: Overall, 4.8% men and 4.6% women with disabilities had unmet needs. For men, unmet needs were 1.46 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.96) higher for those with moderate limitations in daily life. For women, unmet needs were 1.79 times (95% CI 1.22-2.39) higher when there were moderate limitations in daily life. The prominent factors causing this effect were physical or brain lesion disability for men and internal or facial disability and burden of medical expenses for women. CONCLUSIONS: Limitations in daily life due to disability increase the risk of having unmet needs, an effect that is significantly more pronounced in men. These unmet needs differ depending on an individual's sex, disability type, limited body parts, and other specific causes. Efforts are required to reduce the unmet needs of people with disabilities by considering the type of disability, impaired body parts, and causes of unmet needs in daily life.

Revolutionizing cancer treatment in India: Evaluating the unmet need, economics, and a roadmap for project implementation of particle therapy.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to quantitatively assess eligible patients and project the demand for particle therapy facilities in India from 2020 to 2040. In addition, an economic analysis evaluates the financial feasibility of implementing this technology. The study also examines the prospective benefits and challenges of adopting this technology in India. METHODOLOGY: Cancer incidence and projected trends were analyzed for pediatric patients using the Global Childhood Cancer microsimulation model and adult patients using the Globocan data. Economic cost evaluation is performed for large-scale combined particle (carbon and proton-three room fixed-beam), large-scale proton (one gantry and two fixed-beam), and small-scale proton (one gantry) facility. RESULTS: By 2040, the estimated number of eligible patients for particle therapy is projected to reach 161,000, including approximately 14,000 pediatric cases. The demand for particle therapy facilities is projected to rise from 81 to 97 in 2020 to 121 to 146 by 2040. The capital expenditure is estimated to be only 3.7 times that of a standard photon linear accelerator over a 30-year period. Notably, the treatment cost can be reduced to USD 400 to 800 per fraction, substantially lower than that in high-income countries (USD 1000 to 3000 per fraction). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that, in the Indian scenario, all particle therapy models are cost-beneficial and feasible, with large-scale proton therapy being the most suitable. Despite challenges such as limited resources, space, a skilled workforce, referral systems, and patient affordability, it offers substantial benefits. These include the potential to treat many patients and convenient construction and operational costs. An iterative phased implementation strategy can effectively overcome these challenges, paving the way for the successful adoption of particle therapy in India. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: In India, the number of eligible patients benefiting from high-precision particle therapy technology is projected to rise till 2040. Despite high upfront costs, our study finds the long-term feasibility of all particle therapy models, potentially offering a substantial reduction in treatment cost compared to high-income countries. Despite challenges, India can succeed with an iterative phased approach.

Shortcomings of services for persons with severe and persistent mental health challenges: a qualitative study of service users and family carers.

Introduction: The opinions of service users and carers are crucial to identifying ways to innovate and implement system change. This study aims to explore the views and experiences of service users and carerson the services they have used for their mental health challenges and their suggestions for service reform. Methods: Twenty participants (15 carers and 5 service users) were interviewed for the study. Results: Eight categories emerged from the data. They were: Several gaps in the system, Barriers to accessing services, Services are not fit for purpose, Services operate in isolation, System is not person focused, Service users and carers are treated poorly, Services are overloaded and under resourced and Recommendations for service reform. Respondents reported that a persistent lack of funding and resources for mental health services was a main cause of these shortcomings. Respondents also noted that innovations were needed to re-orient services to enable continuity of care, and training of mental health professionals was needed for a better understanding of the needs of service users and their carers. Discussion: Additional research is needed with larger and more diverse samples to further explore these findings.

Management of pain in cancer patients- lessons from practices during the COVID-19: a qualitative study of cancer care providers' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted health systems globally and affected managing many chronic conditions, including cancer. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of multi-disciplinary cancer care providers on how cancer pain management was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Participants were eligible if they were cancer care providers of any specialty and discipline from two tertiary hospitals in Australia. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews to explore cancer care providers' perspectives on cancer pain management within COVID-19. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts used an integrated approach that started with inductive coding before coding deductively against a behaviour framework called the COM-B Model, which proposes that 'capability', 'motivation' and 'opportunity' are requisites for any behaviour. RESULTS: Twenty-three providers participated. Five themes were developed and interpreted from the analysis of data, namely: "Telehealth enables remote access to cancer pain management but also created a digital divide", "Access to cancer pain management in the community is compromised due to the pandemic", "COVID-19 negatively impacts hospital resource allocation", "Patients were required to trade off cancer pain management against other health priorities" and "Hospital restrictions result in decreased social and psychological support for patients with cancer pain". CONCLUSIONS: The landscape of cancer pain management in the Australian health system underwent substantial shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic, with lasting impacts. Cancer care providers perceived the pandemic to have significant adverse effects on pain management across multiple levels, with repercussions for patients experiencing cancer-related pain. A more adaptive health system model needs to be established in the future to accommodate vulnerable cancer patients.

Estimation of Supply and Demand for Cardiologists in Korea.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to estimate the supply and demand for cardiologists in Korea and provide evidence for healthcare policy to ensure a stable and adequate workforce for optimal cardiovascular disease management. METHODS: Past trends of inflow and outflow of cardiologists were used to make crude projections, which were then adjusted based on demands of services to obtain final projections. Inflow of cardiologists was estimated using second-order polynomial regression and demand for cardiology care was estimated using linear regression. RESULTS: There were 1,139 active cardiologists who were under the age of 65 in clinical practice in Korea. The estimated number of cardiologists from 2022 to 2040 showed that the number of cardiologists would peak at 1,344 in 2032 and gradually decrease thereafter. We also estimated an increase of 947,811 cases of heart-related procedures annually from 2023 to 2032. The number of heart-related procedures per cardiologist would increase 1.4 times from 12,964 in 2023 to 17,862 in 2032. The estimated number of emergency patients per cardiologist under 50 years old would almost double from 544 in 2022 to 987 in 2032. CONCLUSIONS: We expect significant shortage of cardiologists in Korea within the next 10 years. The number of emergency patients per cardiologist will increase by nearly 50%, leading to high individual workload for cardiologists. To prevent this imbalance between supply and demand, an organized and collective approach by the specialty of cardiology is imperative to produce a balanced workforce.

Urologist Access for the Male Population: An 18-Year Study on Population Trends.

INTRODUCTION: Our study examines the factors associated with urologist availability for younger and older men across the country over a period of 18 years from 2000 to 2018. METHODS: The Area Health Resource Files and US Census Data were analyzed from 2000, 2010, and 2018. The younger male population was defined as men aged 20 to 49, and the older male population was defined as ages 50 to 79. Urologist availability was determined by county at all time points. Logistic regression analysis and geographically weighted regression was completed. RESULTS: Over an 18-year period, overall urologist availability decreased for men by 19.6%. Access to urologist availability for men in metropolitan and rural counties decreased by 9.4% and 29.5%, respectively. Among the younger male cohort, urologist availability increased in metropolitan counties by 4%, but decreased by 16% in rural counties. There was an overall decrease in urologist availability of 28% and 43% in metropolitan and rural counties in the older male population. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that metropolitan status was the most significant factor associated with urologist availability for both male populations. The odds of each independent factor predicting urologist availability for the younger and older male population is dependent on geography. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the male population has seen a decline in urologist availability. This is especially true for the older male residing in a rural county. Predictors of urologist availability depend on geographical regions, and understanding these regional drivers may allow us to better address disparities in urological care.

Percepciones del personal de salud sobre los efectos de la pandemia COVID-19 en un servicio de salud mental y adicciones

Objetivo: Analizar las percepciones del personal de salud sobre los efectos de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la organización de un servicio de salud mental y adicciones. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, cuantitativo. Se aplicó una encuesta diseñada por el Observatorio Argentino de Drogas de la SEDRONAR (Secretaría de Políticas sobre Drogas de la Nación Argentina) al personal de salud del Centro Asistencial Córdoba durante el mes de noviembre 2020. Resultados: Según las percepciones del personal de salud, la institución sostuvo la admisión y la suspensión fue solamente sobre las prestaciones de terapia grupal durante la primera etapa, que se revirtió desarrollando grupos terapéuticos mediante videollamadas. En relación con la variación de la demanda de atención, el 68,9% mencionó estar totalmente en desacuerdo con la afirmación de que la misma disminuyó. El personal de salud observó una variabilidad en los motivos de consulta y un aumento en la demanda de atención, con un crecimiento de las consultas por violencia autoinfligida y por consumos problemáticos de sustancias. Conclusión: Las medidas de aislamiento implicaron una reorganización de los servicios y sus modalidades de atención. Se torna importante preparar a los servicios de salud mental y adicciones para brindar las prestaciones necesarias y dar respuesta a las demandas de atención durante este tipo de contingencias.

Objetive: To analyze the perceptions of health personnel about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the organization of a mental health and drug abuse service. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative. A survey designed by the Argentine Drugs Observatory of SEDRONAR (Secretaría de Políticas sobre Drogas de la Nación Argentina) was applied to all the health professionals at Centro Asistencial Córdoba during November 2020. Results: According to the perceptions of health personnel, the organization kept admissions open for new treatments and the suspension was only about group therapy benefits during the first moment of lockdown measures, which was reversed by developing therapeutic groups through video calls. Regarding the change in demand for attention, 68, 9% mentioned being totally at odds with the claim that it diminished. Health personnel perceived a variability in the reasons for consultation and an increase in the demand for attention with a growth in consultations due to self-inflicted violence and substance-related disorders. Conclusion: It is possible to conclude that lockdown measures involved a reorganization of services and their modalities of attention. Therefore, it becomes important to prepare mental health services and substance-related disorders to provide the necessary benefits and respond to the demands for attention during this type of critical incidents.

Unmet Needs of Patients With Chronic Urticaria: A Survey in Korea.

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common problem with a high disease burden that has a significant negative impact on quality of life. Many patients are undertreated, and awareness of management strategies is low among clinicians. The present study aimed to improve understanding of CU from the patients' perspective, including the disease burden and current healthcare system use. Adult patients who presented to our referral hospital for CU treatment completed self-report questionnaires about demographics, clinical characteristics of CU, the impact of CU on daily life, unmet needs, and the history of medical service usage. This self-report survey included 127 participants (females, 57.0%; mean age, 42.0 ± 13.6 years; mean CU duration, 1.8 ± 3.4 years); 51.6% reported frequent discomfort with CU in daily life, including 44.1% of those who reported a good response to medication. More than half of the respondents reported a depressed mood and anxiety. Although 46.4% of the respondents reported that urticaria completely disappeared while on medication, only 10% were satisfied with the CU management provided by primary care hospitals. The principal cause of dissatisfaction was that they did not know the cause of CU (68.4% of patients). In total, 55% of the patients visited 2 or more hospitals before presenting to our referral hospital and 6.3% had tried folk remedies. In conclusion, most patients report that CU is not adequately controlled. Therefore, in addition to appropriate medication, information on the cause of CU, long-term treatment plan, medication safety, and expected prognosis is required to meet patients' needs.

Educational needs of patients, families, and healthcare professionals to support the patient journey in haemophilia gene therapy in the UK.

With the first gene therapies for haemophilia approved by the European Commission, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, it is important to consider the remaining unmet needs and challenges that may arise throughout patients' treatment journeys. We discuss existing unmet needs and important considerations prior to, during, and following haemophilia gene therapy treatment in the UK, and propose potential next steps. Key areas for attention are education, psychological support, and guidance on implementation. Strategies are urgently required to fulfil these needs. An immediate priority for information providers should be comprehensive education for people with haemophilia (PWH) and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Greater access to resources and training in psychological services will be required throughout the treatment pathway. More specific guidance is required to define the implementation model, criteria for accreditation, and responsibilities of care centres. Furthermore, PWH may revisit discussions with HCPs multiple times pre-infusion, thus the patient journey is unlikely to be linear. Consideration of these challenges, and of potential strategies to address them, will be integral to optimising the future success of this promising therapy.

Classification of health needs: a cluster analysis of older adults in urban areas.

BACKGROUND: In this study, a cross-sectional survey was used to understand and analyze the health status and health needs of the elderly in the community. The cluster analysis method was used to explore the relationship between health needs items and investigate the commonness among health demand items, to provide a reference for the development of health management of the elderly with chronic diseases. METHODS: We used convenience sampling to recruit the participants (aged 60 and above) from four urban community centers in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, China, in this study. This study uses the Medical Outcomes Study(MOS)36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. The self-designed questionnaire includes sociodemographic characteristics, chronic diseases, physical examination conditions, illness in the past two weeks, and a health needs questionnaire. SPSS 18.0 was used for data entry and analysis. Data analysis methods included descriptive statistical analysis, t-test, one-way analysis, cluster analysis, and linear multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The rate of health needs among the elderly in the community for various health services is 1.3-69.7%, of which the top three are: regular physical examination (69.7%), day Care Center (67.7%), the establishment of a Medical Alert Systems (66.1%). The health needs of the elderly in the community are divided into three categories: basic needs (24 items), health education (13 items), and first aid (2 items). The regression analysis found that the influencing factors of health status were age, revenue and expenditure, medical expenses, health education, basic needs, and first aid. CONCLUSIONS: The community should strengthen the management of chronic diseases of the elderly and the publicity and education of related knowledge, and provide complementary health care services according to the health needs of the elderly, improve the health of the elderly, and improve the quality of life of the elderly.

Age-Dependent Sex Differences in the Prevalence of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Background: Antidepressants are among the most prescribed medications in the United States. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of antidepressant prescriptions and investigate sex differences and age-sex interactions in adults enrolled in the Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Time: Using Genomic Data to Individualize Treatment (RIGHT) study. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the RIGHT study. Using electronic prescriptions, we assessed 12-month prevalence of antidepressant treatment. Sex differences and age-sex interactions were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression and flexible recursive smoothing splines. Results: The sample consisted of 11,087 participants (60% women). Antidepressant prescription prevalence was 22.24% (27.96% women, 13.58% men). After adjusting for age and enrollment year, women had significantly greater odds of antidepressant prescription (odds ratio = 2.29; 95% confidence interval = 2.07, 2.54). Furthermore, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had a significant age-sex interaction. While SSRI prescriptions in men showed a sustained decrease with age, there was no such decline for women until after reaching ∼50 years of age. There are important limitations to consider in this study. Electronic prescription data were cross-sectional; information on treatment duration or adherence was not collected; this cohort is not nationally representative; and enrollment occurred over a broad period, introducing confounding by changes in temporal prescribing practices. Conclusions: Underscored by the significant interaction between age and sex on odds of SSRI prescription, our results warrant age to be incorporated as a mediator when investigating sex differences in mental illness, especially mood disorders and their treatment.

Modelling a Consultant Workforce for the United Kingdom: needs-based planning for Dental Public Health.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a needs-based workforce planning model to explore specialist workforce capacity and capability for the effective, efficient, and safe provision of services in the United Kingdom (UK); and test the model using Dental Public Health (DPH). BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Data from a national workforce survey, national audit, and specialty workshops in 2020 and 2021 set the parameters for a safe effective DPH workforce. A working group drawing on external expertise, developed a conceptual workforce model which informed the mathematical modelling, taking a Markovian approach. The latter enabled the consideration of possible scenarios relating to workforce development. It involved exploration of capacity within each career stage in DPH across a time horizon of 15 years. Workforce capacity requirements were calculated, informed by past principles. RESULTS: Currently an estimated 100 whole time equivalent (WTE) specialists are required to provide a realistic basic capacity nationally for DPH across the UK given the range of organisations, population growth, complexity and diversity of specialty roles. In February 2022 the specialty had 53.55 WTE academic/service consultants, thus a significant gap. The modelling evidence suggests a reduction in DPH specialist capacity towards a steady state in line with the current rate of training, recruitment and retention. The scenario involving increasing training numbers and drawing on other sources of public health trained dentists whilst retaining expertise within DPH has the potential to build workforce capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Current capacity is below basic requirements and approaching 'steady state'. Retention and innovative capacity building are required to secure and safeguard the provision of specialist DPH services to meet the needs of the UK health and care systems.