Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Healthcare utilisation'

The changing face of patient’s populations in the UK has resulted in notable increases in cultural diversity that impact on health care service provision, access and utilisation; with health services underutilisation, prevalent more among immigrants due to heavy reliance on cultural and religious cure methods. The aim of this thesis therefore, was to explore how Nigerians in the UK engage with the British health system. This objective was pursued by integrating immigration issues, with factors associated with decisions to seek medical help, including health beliefs, access, attitudes, cognitions, and socio-political and religious experiences (past and present) that impact upon health outcomes. A triangulation approach was employed, involving a critical review of measures, and four empirical studies consisting of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Results show that health-seeking behaviours among Nigerians were best accounted for by their religious and cultural beliefs, as typified by their health context before migration. Religion was not found as a barrier to medical help-seeking; the regression analysis revealed that belonging to the Christian religious group predicted increased medical help-seeking; although assimilation to the British culture was associated with reduced religious behaviours. However, the role of other religious groups regarding medical help-seeking remains unclear, and needs a more focused study. In addition, care providers mainly agreed on the benefits of integrating the spiritual methods into formal healthcare systems, bringing some challenges which were tentatively negotiated through the theory of transformative coping (TTC). Findings have implications for research, policies, and clinical practice, particularly when culture-sensitive and integrated health interventions are tailored to the needs of the diverse immigrant populations in the UK.

Down’s syndrome is a common chromosomal disorder associated with intellectual disability, congenital anomalies and increased risk of a number of acquired diseases. Despite improvements in life expectancy due to improved medical care, clear health disparities still exist. Down’s syndrome remains an important cause of infant mortality and intellectual disability in Hong Kong and globally. Gaps in existing knowledge include an unknown prevalence of Down’s syndrome, especially amongst adults; unknown patterns of A&E and outpatient utilisation by people with Down’s syndrome; the applicability of international data on hospitalisations of people with Down’s syndrome to Hong Kong; and the current demand on Hong Kong’s public healthcare services by people with Down’s syndrome. This study uses Hospital Authority patient and healthcare episode data to identify people with Down’s syndrome alive in 2010. Data from the Hong Kong Census 2011 is then used to create an estimate of the age- specific point prevalence of Down’s syndrome in Hong Kong on 31/12/2010. The relative risk associated with Down’s syndrome of at least one admission is calculated. Age and gender stratified rates of A&E attendance, outpatient attendance and inpatient admissions for both the Down’s syndrome population and the general population are estimated and compared. Average length of stay is also calculated for both populations and compared. A negative binomial with log link regression model is used to examine the association between patient characteristics, including age, gender, ethnicity and known comorbidities, and admission factors, including admission type, admitting speciality, surgery and intensive care admission, on length of stay. Lastly, the proportion of Hospital Authority A&E attendances, outpatient attendances and inpatient admissions that are by people with Down’s syndrome is calculated. 2,144 people with Down’s syndrome were identified. The overall prevalence of Down’s syndrome on 31/12/2010 in Hong Kong was 3.00 per 10,000. It was highest in those aged under 5 years at 9.95 per 10,000 and decreased with age. Rates of A&E, outpatient attendance and inpatient admission were 2.0, 2.4 and 3.3 times higher respectively in the Down’s syndrome population compared to the general population. The Risk Ratio of at least one admission associated with Down’s syndrome was 2.59 (p<0.001). Factors significantly associated with increased length of stay included infant age group, known thyroid disease, known other circulatory malformation, non-emergency admission, surgery, admission to ICU and 3 or more known comorbidities. Known congenital heart disease and known epilepsy were significantly associated with a shorter length of stay. The overall proportion of A&E attendances, outpatient attendances and inpatient admissions that were by people with Down’s syndrome were 0.06%, 0.07% and 0.10% respectively. This study provides new knowledge on Down’s syndrome in Hong Kong which will be of use to those delivering and planning healthcare services for this population, and also to those providing genetic counselling on Down’s syndrome. At the same time, new questions are raised on morbidity, mortality and equity of healthcare access amongst people with Down’s syndrome. Further research is required to answer these questions and thus allow effective interventions for reducing morbidity and mortality in this population to be designed.
published_or_final_version
Public Health
Master
Master of Public Health

A severe burn is a trauma fraught with stress and pain and may change the entire course of life. This thesis focuses on care utilisation, care experiences and patient satisfaction after a severe burn.

The patients studied were treated at the Burn Unit at Uppsala University Hospital between 1980 and 2006. Burn-related health was examined using the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B), personality traits with the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP), psychological symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), symptoms of posttraumatic stress with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and satisfaction with care using the Patient Satisfaction-Results and Quality (PS-RESKVA) questionnaire.

Those utilising care years after injury reported poorer functioning on three of the BSHS-B subscales. Personality traits had a greater impact on care utilisation than injury severity.

Social desirability was lower among care utilisers and was associated with burn-related health aspects.

The participants reported a low level of negative care experiences, the most common of which was Powerlessness.

Most patients were satisfied with care, more with quality of contact with the nursing staff, and less with treatment information. Multiple regressions showed that the BSHS-B Interpersonal relationships subscale was an independent variable related to all measured aspects of patient satisfaction. The highest adjusted R² was 0.25.

In a prospective assessment with multiple regression analyses, Age and Education, the personality traits of Stress susceptibility, Trait irritability, Detachment and Social desirability, in addition to the post-traumatic stress symptoms Intrusion and Hyperarousal, were predictors of satisfaction with care. The highest adjusted R² was 0.19.

The thesis has pointed out that interpersonal factors are related to care utilisation as well as satisfaction with care. However, satisfaction with care was only moderately associated with health and individual characteristics, which may imply that the care itself is of major importance.

Problem Statement: Many developing countries are still grappling with poor health as a result of strained healthcare systems. Top among health inequalities is maternal care with maternal mortality rates being almost 19 times higher in developing countries than in their developed counterparts. mHealth presents the potential for developing countries to overcome some of the traditional healthcare challenges. However, despite the compelling evidence for the potential of maternal mHealth from the plethora of effectiveness studies, why when and how interventions work/do not work in different contexts are not fully understood. Socio-cultural factors are one of the most cited reasons for variance in uptake and utilisation of such technologies. To date, research explaining how socio-cultural factors shape mHealth utilisation is sparse. Purpose of the study: The main objective of the study was to explain how mHealth utilisation behaviour emerges within the healthcare-seeking socio-cultural context. To achieve the objective, the study identified the socio-cultural characteristics of the maternal healthcareseeking context and analysed the user-technology interaction within this context. Research methodology: Building on the foundation that human experiences are best understood in situ, the study adopted explanatory methods guided by an interpretivist paradigm. The study drew upon Activity Theory as a lens to understand the maternal mHealth utilisation phenomenon. Hence, we theorised healthcare-seeking as an activity whose cultural aspects were further understood using Hofstede typology of culture. The study used a Kenyan maternal mHealth intervention to elucidate the phenomenon. We employed semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, observations, informal discussions, and document review to gather data. The sample was purposively selected and comprised various maternal health stakeholders: maternal health clients, their partners, project implementers and healthcare professionals. Key findings: The results of the study show that the healthcare-seeking socio-cultural context which is characterised by socio-cultural attributes such as high-power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, gendered relations, and collectivism shapes mHealth utilisation behaviour in a dialectical process. This process takes place as maternal health clients shape and are shaped by mHealth within their healthcare-seeking socio-cultural context through a process of internalisation and externalisation. From an internalisation perspective, uncertainties and risks in the maternal healthcare-seeking context resulted in hesitated adoption. Contextual perceptions of usefulness of the intervention resulted in the use of mHealth to substitute other healthcare structures while having different perceptions of the role of mHealth created dissonance among the maternal health clients. With regards to externalisation, maternal health clients adopted legitimisation strategies to reduce uncertainties and to develop trust required for initial and continued use of the intervention. They legitimised both the intervention artifact, and the information. Since the mHealth intervention presented appropriate social cues, being accompanied by the expected health provider's persona, maternal health clients readily humanised the intervention. The contextual social norms around pregnancy also presented a need for the maternal health clients to make their mHealth use an ‘appropriate behaviour' by negotiating use with relevant stakeholders in the context. Finally, in response to mHealth technology paradoxes that challenged the very motive of healthcare-seeking, maternal health clients coped by abandoning mHealth, or otherwise accommodating it. Originality/contribution: This study contributed to knowledge, theory, and practice. First, the study suggests theoretical propositions that explain how mHealth utilisation behaviour emerges. These findings may be useful to similar developing-country contexts. A further contribution to theory emerges from the use of Activity Theory to understand the phenomenon. The study helps to operationalise Activity Theory concepts in Information Systems research. Second, the study provides recommendations to practise with regard to the design and implementation of mHealth interventions. These insights may be useful to mHealth designers and implementers in designing mHealth solutions that are contextually relevant. Here, we propose the consideration of mHealth intervention characteristics that will aid utilisation, involving healthcare professionals and other community stakeholders in mHealth implementation and integrating mHealth into existing healthcare structures.

This thesis described the casemix, health resource utilisation and geographic clustering of demand for health services for liver disease using data collected from the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane. High levels of advanced liver disease were seen, with a high requirement for ancillary services. Younger patients and patients with less severe disease were less likely to attend scheduled appointments. Demand for specialty care was clustered within specific geographic areas. The findings of this program of research highlight some specific issues that need to be addressed, in order to improve health services for patients with chronic liver disease.

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012.
This research is an attempt to investigate the utilisation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Healthcare to support the flow of HIV/AIDS patient’s general information in public and private sector. Furthermore, the research examines the detail flow of database information for healthcare service delivery to patients, in particular HIV/AIDS patients, in Khayelitsha Township. Finally, the research will detail the types of technologies currently being utilised to transfer this information, technology utilised for capturing or data collection profile of the patient. The research study data collecting was done in 2009 in mostly private and public healthcare centre in Khayelitsha township. First, the study will concentrate on general utilisation of ICT in healthcare service delivery and flow of information for public and private sector healthcare centres. Additionally, the research also looks at NGOs such as HIV/AIDS Unit in Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and Treament Action Campaign (TAC) to find out what ICT equipment is being utilised to transfer this information to adult people to inform and make them to be aware of HIV/AIDS and improve healthcare service delivery to patients and particularly to HIV/AIDS patients. Taking NGO’s such as TAC and CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit that are well informed about HIV/AIDS, nationally and internationally will make our research results to be more precise. The research will also look at the utilisation of ICT in flow of information at healthcare centre such as communication between healthcare providers such as receptionist/clerk, nurses, doctors and medical researchers since they are the first people who deal with HIV/AIDS patient cases when they come for healthcare provision.

Achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a desirable goal for all countries. Complementary public and private services are essential. This study examined factors that influence consumer choice for private and public health care services in Vietnam. Thirty senior healthcare professionals were interviewed and secondary data on over 35,000 episodes of healthcare gathered during national health surveys in households were analyzed. For Vietnam and similar low and middle-income countries to achieve UHC, it is necessary to overcome incomplete social health insurance coverage, variable quality of private and public health services, unregulated quality in advertising and inefficient competition between sectors.

Nature of the inquiry: My research inquiry investigated how qualities of personal interaction shape and affect the promotion of research utilisation for quality improvement in the US healthcare sector. The research investigated my own professional practice of consulting, teaching, and research regarding the improvement of healthcare practices and outcomes. Efforts to improve the quality of healthcare services are often difficult to realise and sustain. The quality improvement movement in the USA and elsewhere has not conducted much self-examination of its own processes for sources of these perennially problematic results. Relevance: The quality of healthcare services can be readily understood as having consequences of life or death, wellness or suffering. Healthcare expenditures in the USA are estimated at 16% of GDP and over 9% in the UK. Improving healthcare quality improvement efforts is a matter of profound human and social significance. Approach: The DMan research methodology is a reflexively aware process conducted as a cohort and as small learning groups of researchers during the three-year programme. The research inquiry used the complex responsive process of relating theory of learning as emergent changes of meaning or, equivalently, knowledge. As a social science of qualities, it uses the qualities of human interaction as the unit of analysis. The research utilised an interdisciplinary approach drawing upon: healthcare quality improvement literature; organizational discourse studies; research on strategy as practice; performance management; communications theories; the theory of mindful learning; interpersonal neurobiology; figurational sociology; and American pragmatist philosophy. The methodology employs a mindful reflexivity research strategy related to concepts from mindful learning and social neuroscience literature. Central methods included iterative peer and supervisor debriefing and iterative reflexive narrative practice. Findings: A contribution is made to the healthcare literature by describing how ordinary qualities of social coordination dynamics affect the promoters of healthcare research, not just potential users of research. A contribution is made to professional practice by providing a new perspective from which to analyse the sources of performance challenges prevalent in healthcare quality improvement efforts. The research findings indicate how applications of substantial organisational and social resources to promote research utilisation in the US health sector can be co-opted and dissipated away from ostensive substantive objectives. This occurs by research promoters‟ organizational discourse efforts to favourably shape power relating and other qualities of interaction of improvement initiatives. These efforts restrict the emergence of learning about the promoted changes.

Background: The effect of Malaria attack on maternal and child health in Nigeria is high compared with other countries in sub Saharan Africa. This problem has been a persistent issue in Nigeria and many researchers have tried to proffer solutions. Insecticide treated nets (ITN) have been identified as providing approximately 80% protection against malaria attack. However, all the measures put in place to control malaria failed to meet up with the set target of the Roll Back Malaria Initiative, which aimed at reducing malaria deaths in Nigeria by half by 2010 in line with the Millennium Development Goals (Anyaehie et al., 2009). As part of the global initiative to reduce malaria deaths before 2015 (Amoran, Senbanjo and Asagwara, 2011) the Nigerian government introduced intervention programmes to protect pregnant women, and children under-five years of age (Anyaehie et al., 2011). However, although there has been considerable and effective intervention in controlling this preventable disease in the African continent, marked inconsistency in the distribution of the ITN, scarcity and low usage in Nigeria (Amoran, Senbanjo and Asagwara, 2011) are apparent, despite emphasis on community-based strategies for malaria control (Obinna, 2011). For midwives in rural Nigeria the disproportionate vulnerability of pregnant women and young children is of great concern. This particular issue is the focus of a hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry into the experiences of pregnant women and mothers in their efforts to protect their families and themselves from malaria attack. The study contends that the ‘big (pan-African/national) story’ of malaria has found many voices, speaking from a predominantly positivist perspective. While some more interpretivist approaches to exploring experience have been employed elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa (Rachel and Frank 2005), there remains a need for more participatory research related to health care issues in Nigeria (Abdullahi et al 2013). Women and children make up the majority of the Nigeria population of over 160 million. An attack of malaria on them affects entire households and the economy of the nation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to give voice to the ‘small (household) stories’ of Nigerian women (mothers and health workers), living and working in impoverished rural communities, and consider how their viewpoints, perspectives and imaginings might contribute to the fight for a malaria-free Nigeria. Methodological approach: The research draws on the philosophy of Martin Heidegger, Hans-Georg Gadamer, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. The participants’ accounts are interpreted in terms of Africana ‘Womanism’ as defined by Hudson-Weems (1993), the socio-narratology approach elaborated by Frank (2010), and Igbo world-view. Research procedure: Individual semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with Igbo women in three rural communities in Enugu State in eastern Nigeria (Nsukka, Ngwo, and Amechi). This was a three-phase process involving an initial orientation visit to engage with local gatekeepers and community health workers. A first round of interviews and discussion took place in three communities in 2014, followed by the first phase of interpretation. A second field trip took place in 2015, during which participants discussed the ongoing interpretation and elaborated further on some of the issues raised. Interpretive phases 2 and 3 followed this visit. Interpretive process: Interpretive shifts in understanding were accomplished in three ways: 1. Seeking thematic connections between participants’ accounts of living with the threat of malaria. 2. Engaging in dialogical narrative analysis to explore the work done by the stories embedded in individual accounts of living under the threat of malaria. 3. Crafting found poetry from within the collective accounts to produce an evocative text that could mediate an emotional response and understanding of the malaria experience. Key outcomes: The research was a response to calls for more participatory research into the detailed experiences of people in Africa facing up to the threat of malaria. It has provided a vehicle for the voices of a group of Nigerian women and health workers to bring attention to the continuing plight of pregnant women and their families with limited access to insecticide-treated bed nets in poor living conditions. They have told how they seek to empower themselves in their own small and particular ways. It has provided insights into their worldview(s) and what others might see from where they stand. As such it has added to their own call expressed during the research to “Keep malaria on the agenda.” The research has used the women’s own testimony to create an oral resource designed https://youtu.be/XelMXLUzTV0 to facilitate education and action among small local groups of women and their families, and for health workers in local rural communities.

This thesis describes a three-phase mixed-method investigation into the utilisation of antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care among women living in squatter and non-squatter settlements of Ward 34, Kathmandu, Nepal. The study sought to increase knowledge about the utilisation of maternal healthcare services and to better understand how and why inequalities in utilisation may arise. The results highlight the need to address the provision of maternal healthcare for the poorest women in Kathmandu.

Dans l’ensemble de la thèse, nous avons appliqué des techniques de ‘mesure des variations spatiales’ pour l'étude des variations géographiques de taux d'hospitalisation en France. La thèse est composée de 4 études :Étude 1 : « Variation géographique des recours aux procédures chirurgicales en France en 2008-2010 et comparaison avec les États-Unis et la Grande-Bretagne ».Étude 2 : « Variation géographique des admissions pour les prothèses du genou, de la hanche et la fracture de la hanche en France : existence d’une demande induite dans le secteur des hôpitaux à but lucratif et dans les hôpitaux public et privés à but non-lucratif »Étude 3 : « Caractéristiques et tendances des admissions non urgentes à but lucratif et sans but lucratif hôpitaux en France en 2009 et 2010 ». Étude 4 : « Taux d'admission pour des ’hospitalisations évitables par le système ambulatoire’ (ACSC) en France en 2009-2010 : tendances, variation géographique, coûts et comparaison internationale »
For all of this work, we applied ‘small-area variation’ techniques to the study of geographic variations in hospitalization rates in France. We conducted four studies:Study 1: Geographic variation in rates of common surgical procedures in France in 2008-2010 and comparison to the US and BritainStudy 2: Geographic variation in admissions for knee replacement, hip replacement, and hip fracture in France: evidence of supplier-induced demand in for-profit and not-for profit hospitalsStudy 3: Characteristics and patterns of elective admissions to for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals in France in 2009 and 2010Study 4: Rates of admission for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in France in 2009-2010: trends, geographic variation, costs, and an international comparison

En France, depuis 2012, les anticoagulants oraux directs (AOD), indiqués dans la prévention des accidents vasculaires cérébraux chez les patients avec fibrillation auriculaire (FA) non valvulaire, sont une alternative aux antivitamines K (AVK) pour lesquels une sous-prescription et un défaut d’observance ont été largement décrits. L’objectif de cette thèse était, dans le cadre du programme de travail du Département études de santé publique de la Caisse nationale de l’Assurance maladie, d’étudier à partir des bases de données médico-administratives (BDMA) françaises l’utilisation et la sécurité du traitement anticoagulant oral (ACO) en situation réelle de soins chez les patients avec FA. Un premier travail a permis de construire un algorithme pour identifier l’indication FA chez les patients débutant un ACO et pour lesquels aucun diagnostic de FA n’était retrouvé dans les BDMA. Un deuxième travail a porté sur l’évaluation de l’adhésion au traitement ACO chez les nouveaux utilisateurs : au cours de l’année suivant l’initiation du traitement, au moins un patient sur trois arrêtait son traitement, dabigatran ou rivaroxaban, et la persistance à ces traitements n’était pas meilleure que celle des AVK. Un troisième travail a décrit une amélioration de la couverture anticoagulante chez les patients avec FA entre 2011 et 2016. Cependant, un patient sur trois était encore sans traitement ACO en 2016 et de potentiels mésusages à l’instauration du traitement AOD ont été identifiés, dont un signal de sous-dosage. Enfin, une analyse en symétrie de séquences a suggéré que l’initiation des AOD serait associée à la survenue rare d’atteintes toxiques aiguës du foie et à la survenue plus fréquente de troubles gastrointestinaux. Avec la description de la population et de l’utilisation rejointes des traitements ACO en France chez les patients avec FA, ces résultats encouragent la poursuite de la surveillance des effets indésirables non hémorragiques des AOD et l’amélioration de leur utilisation
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) were gradually introduced since 2012 in France for stroke and systemic embolism prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), as a more convenient alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for which underprescribing and high rates of discontinuation have been frequently reported. As part of the work programme of the Department of Studies in Public Health, French National Health Insurance, the aim of this dissertation was to assess the patterns of use and safety of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in real-life setting using the French healthcare databases. First, an algorithm was developed to identify AF in outpatients initiating OAC and for whom no diagnosis of AF was found in the French claims data. Second, 1-year dabigatran and rivaroxaban adherence rates were estimated in nonvalvular AF patients and 1-year non-persistence rates were compared versus VKA. At least 1 in 3 dabigatran or rivaroxaban new users was found to be non-adherent to treatment. Treatment persistence among dabigatran or rivaroxaban new users was not found to be better versus VKA therapy. Third, OAC therapy use was found to have increased following in France between 2011 and 2016 but remained suboptimal with 1 in 3 patients with AF not treated by OAC therapy. Several situations of inappropriate use of DOAC were identified including potential undertreatment by inappropriate dosing. Finally, a sequence symmetry analysis suggested that DOAC therapy is associated with rare but severe liver injury and more frequent gastrointestinal disorders. A low risk of kidney injury with DOAC therapy can also not be excluded. These findings advocate further investigation of the potential risk of DOAC underdosing at initiation and the continuous monitoring of the non-bleeding adverse events of DOAC therapy

Résumé: Introduction: Cette étude s’intéresse à l’expérience de soins de patients aînés de 70 ans et plus atteints de cancer entourant une visite à l’urgence. Elle repose sur plusieurs résultats d’études démontrant que ces personnes présentent des besoins spécifiques non comblés, les amenant à utiliser les services d’urgence pour y répondre. Peu d’études se sont intéressées à leur expérience de soins et encore plus rarement dans le contexte d’une visite à l’urgence. But : Mieux comprendre l’expérience de soins des patients aînés atteints de cancer entourant une visite à l’urgence. Cette étude comprend quatre objectifs soit : 1) établir le profil des patients de 70 ans et plus ayant consulté l’urgence pour un problème lié à leur cancer dans les 12 mois précédant l’étude; 2) identifier les raisons et les facteurs amenant ces patients à consulter les services d’urgence; 3) identifier les stratégies de coping utilisées avant d’aller à l’urgence et 4) décrire l’expérience de soins de ces patients à l’urgence. Méthode: Une étude à devis mixte simultané a été entreprise. Une analyse descriptive des bases de données administratives a été réalisée pour documenter le profil sociodémographique, clinique et l'utilisation des services des patients aînés atteints de cancer de 70 ans et plus qui ont visité l'urgence d'un centre hospitalier au Québec, le Canada (n = 792, Objectifs 1-2). Ensuite, des entrevues semi-structurées ont suivi (n = 11) et ont été analysées par une analyse de contenu en profondeur (Objectifs 2, 3, & 4). Résultats: Un total de 792 patients aînés atteints de cancer ont visité l'urgence pour un total de 1572 visites. Les raisons de consultation les plus fréquentes étaient de nature respiratoire (15,8%), digestive (13,4%) et les troubles cardiovasculaires (8,2%). Plus de la moitié des visites était réalisée de jour. L’anxiété, les problèmes d’accessibilité et la détérioration importante de la santé étaient des facteurs qui influençaient le recours aux services d’urgence. Les patients ont été en mesure de déployer une multitude de stratégies de coping pour faire face à leurs problèmes de santé. Par ailleurs, l’expérience de soins est un processus unique, vécu de manière très individuelle. Conclusion: Cette étude décrit l’expérience de soins de patients aînés atteints de cancer à l’urgence et souligne plusieurs domaines d’amélioration des services en périphérie de l’urgence, mais aussi au sein même du service d’urgence.
Abstract: Introduction: Older cancer patients are known to have specific unmet needs due to the complexity of their health care, leading them to use emergency services. However, it is known that emergency rooms are not well-suited to the needs of the elderly. Few studies have focused on the health care experience of older cancer patients and even less so in the context of emergency room (ER) visits. Purpose: This study aims to better understand the experience of older cancer patients in the context of ER visits for unexpected health deterioration related to cancer. We sought to: 1) establish the profile of patients aged 70 years and older who made ER visits for problems related to their cancer in the 12 months preceding the study; 2) identify the reasons and factors that motivate older patients with cancer to make ER visits; 3) identify coping strategies used by older cancer patients prior to ER visits; and 4) describe the health care experience of older cancer patients in the context of ER visits. Methods: A concurrent mixed-method design was used. Descriptive analysis of administrative databases was first conducted to document the socio-demographic, clinical, and service utilization profile of elderly cancer patients aged 70 years and older who visited the ER of a hospital in Québec, Canada (n = 792, Objectives 1-2). Semi-structured interviews were subsequently conducted (n = 11) and then analysed using in-depth content analysis (Objectives 2, 3, & 4). Results: The sample of 792 older cancer patients made a total of 1,572 ER visits. The most frequent medical reasons for ER visits were respiratory (15.8%) and digestive (13.4%) concerns, and cardiovascular conditions (8.2%). Content analysis of the qualitative data suggested that older cancer patients made most of the ER visits when experiencing high levels of anxiety, when other cancer care services were unavailable, or because of a serious life-threatening health condition. Patients were able to use a variety of coping strategies to deal with health issues. Furthermore, the care process is experienced uniquely for each individual. Conclusion: This study describes the health care experience of older cancer patients in the context of ER visits and suggests areas of improvement both outside of and within emergency services.

L’accès aux interventions de la prévention de la transmission mère-enfant (PTME) est limité en Afrique de l’Ouest et les mères infectées continuent de transmettre le virus à leurs enfants. D’importantes questions sur le diagnostic et traitement antirétroviral (TAR) précoce pour les enfants dans les pays à ressources-limitées restent sans réponses. La simulation est un outil utile qui permet d’intégrer toutes les données disponibles et de projeter à long terme les retombées cliniques et économiques de l’infection à VIH pédiatrique et informer les politiques de santé. Bien que les modèles de simulation soient mathématiquement sophistiqués, l’utilité des études basées sur la simulation dépend de la qualité des données de départ. L’objectif principal de ce travail était de fournir des données originales et récentes sur la mortalité, morbidité sévère et recours aux soins chez les enfants infectés par le VIH suivis dans des programmes de soins, avant et après initiation du TAR, dans le contexte du passage à l’échelle du TAR depuis 2004 en Afrique de l’Ouest. Nos résultats font ressortir un taux de mortalité comparable à d’autres études, atteignant 5.5% après 18 mois de suivi dans une cohorte d’enfants non traités par TAR, inclus à un âge médian de 5 ans. Les taux de morbidité sévère étaient élevés chez les enfants non traités mais aussi traités. Nous avons rapportés qu’une hospitalisation sur trois était provoquée par une morbidité infectieuse, évitable par une prophylaxie par cotrimoxazole, une intervention simple et efficace qui n’est toujours pas accessible à tous en Afrique de l’Ouest. Nous avons également observé un recours aux soins importants associé à la morbidité sévère. Cependant, parmi les enfants non traités, comme les traités, le recours aux soins était plus faible parmi les enfants les plus immunodéprimés. Le principal obstacle aux recours aux soins était le coût associé pour les familles. Enfin, les enfants qui initiaient un TAR l’initiaient trop tard, à un stade trop avancée de la maladie pour une restitution immunitaire pour âge ; la probabilité de rattraper une immunité normale était encore plus faible chez les enfants âgés > 5 ans comparé aux plus jeunes. Globalement, ce travail met en avant la nécessité de la mise en place de stratégies de diagnostic et traitement précoce. Optimiser le parcours de soins ainsi implique des interventions à de nombreux niveaux du système de soins et aucune approche unique ne pourra être efficace. De plus, les coûts liés à une prise en charge à vie devront être estimés dans un contexte où le VIH devient une maladie chronique engendrant un plus gros recours aux soins. Intégrer ces données dans un modèle de simulation permettra d’informer les politiques de santé et les soignants afin d’identifier les stratégies les plus efficaces et coût-efficaces pour le diagnostic, le traitement et le suivi à long terme de l’enfant infecté par le VIH dans les pays à ressources limitées
Access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) interventions is limited in West Africa and mothers continue to transmit HIV disease to their children. Important questions on early HIV diagnosis and early antiretroviral therapy (ART) for children in resource-limited settings remain unanswered. Computer simulation models can provide helpful information to project long-term patient outcomes and inform health policy. Although simulation models are computationally sophisticated, the usefulness of the results of modelling studies depends on the quality and accuracy of the data on which they are based. The main objective of the following work was to provide accurate and up-to-date data on mortality, severe morbidity and healthcare resource utilisation in HIV-infected children enrolled in care, before and after ART initiation in the context of the access to ART roll-out since 2004 in West Africa. Our findings suggest mortality rates comparable to those of other studies, reaching 5.5% by 18 months of follow-up in children enrolled in cohorts at a median age of 5 years who had not yet initiated ART. Severe morbidity rates were high, in both ART-treated and untreated children. We found that one hospitalisation in three was caused by an infectious disease, avoidable by cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, a simple and efficient intervention that is still not accessible to all in West Africa. We also reported substantial rates of healthcare resource utilisations associated with this severe morbidity. However, in both untreated and ART-treated children, healthcare resource utilisation was lower in the sickest, most immunodeficient children. Access to healthcare remains limited and one of the explanations we put forward are the costs borne by the families. Finally, children on ART remain initiated at a too late stage to be able to restore normal immunity for age; this is even less likely in those who initiated ART after 5 years compared to younger children. Overall, this work underlines the need for an effective early HIV diagnosis and treatment. Optimising this requires interventions at multiple levels of the healthcare system and no single approach is likely to be effective. Furthermore, lifetime treatment costs will need to be assessed as HIV becomes a chronic disease leading to greater healthcare resource utilisation. Integrating these data in computer simulation models will assist healthcare providers and policy-makers to identify the most effective and cost-effective strategies for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of paediatric HIV in low income countries

Cette thèse traite du concept de désert médical. Malgré un usage très marqué du terme par les médias et les représentants politiques, l’existence et l’identification des déserts médicaux posent question pour les pouvoirs publics. Cerner des inégalités d’accès à des services de santé suppose que l’on sache identifier les besoins des usagers d’un territoire. Or, le besoin de santé est propre à chacun. Mais un individu n’a pas non plus la connaissance totale de ce besoin. On doit donc cerner comment les pouvoirs publics comprennent, eux-mêmes, cet objet et comment ils conçoivent des actions visant à le réguler. C’est à cela que ce travail s’est essayé. À l’aide d’une recherche intervention avec l’Agence Régionale de Santé de Corse, une analyse des modalités de conception des actions publiques visant à réguler les inégalités d’accès aux soins a été menée. Nous montrons notamment que l’approche parcours, en tant que modélisation plus globale du besoin de santé, permet d’éclairer la multiplicité des situations inégalitaires fondues dans le désert médical. Lutter contre les déserts médicaux, ce n’est plus seulement garantir la présence de professionnels de santé mais c’est aussi assurer une égalité des citoyens dans la continuité de leur parcours de santé. Or les spécificités des territoires et des individus laissent présager une forte hétérogénéité entre ces parcours, hétérogénéité difficilement gérable au niveau national. Nous montrons alors la faisabilité d’une conception ascendante d’une action publique innovante, pour diminuer les inégalités d’accès aux soins. Par un processus lent, fragile et complexe, des actions d’origine locales peuvent répondre à des spécificités territoriales sans pour autant ignorer un cadre règlementaire et institutionnel national. Néanmoins, multiplier ces expérimentations de proximité nécessite d’introduire, au niveau national, des critères de classement et de sélection des projets. Nous préconisons alors l’utilisation de méthodes de gestion de l’exploration de l’inconnu
This dissertation deals with the concept of medical desert. Despite widespread use of the word by the media and political representatives, identifying medical deserts is far from easy for public authorities. Spotting inequalities in access to health services requires to identify users’ needs wherever they live. However, health needs are individualized. Besides, an individual does not fully know his needs. We must therefore understand how public authorities themselves appreciate this object and how they design actions accordingly to regulate care access. This is our purpose in this dissertation. We led an action research with the Regional Health Agency of Corsica in order to analyze how public actions are designed to regulate care access inequalities. We show in particular how the care pathway approach can highlight the diversity of inequalities in a medical desert thanks to a more global modeling of health needs. Fighting medical deserts is no longer limited to guaranteeing the presence of health professionals locally. It also relies on ensuring equality between citizens in the continuity of their care pathway. Yet, territories and individuals specificities suggest a strong heterogeneity between these pathways, which is difficult to manage at a national level. We then evaluate feasibility of a bottom-up innovative public action to reduce inequalities in care access. Through a slow, fragile and complex process, local actions can still address territorial specificities without ignoring a national regulatory and institutional framework. However, multiplying these proximity experiments requires new national-level criteria to select and rank projects. Hence, we recommend methods often used to manage the exploration of the unknown

La présente thèse explore, à travers quatre papiers, la possibilité d’étendre le régime d’assurance maladie sociale (SHI) vers la couverture santé universelle (CSU) et ce en présence d’obstacles structurels économiques.Les effets moyens de deux traitements, les deux assurances MHI et MAS, sur l’utilisation des soins de santé (consultations externes et hospitalisations) sont estimés. L’actuel régime d’assurance sociale en Tunisie (SHI), malgré l’amélioration de l’utilisation des soins de santé procurée aux groupes couverts, reste incapable d’atteindre une couverture effective de tous les membres de la population vis-à-vis des services de soins dont ils ont besoin. L’atteinte de cet objectif requière une stratégie qui cible les ‘‘arbres’’ et non la ‘‘forêt’’.Le chapitre deux contourne les principaux obstacles à l’extension de la couverture par l’assurance maladie et propose une approche originale permettant de cibler les travailleurs informels et les individus en chômage. Une étude transversale d’évaluation contingente (CV) a été menée en Tunisie se proposant d’estimer les volontés d’adhésion et les consentements à payer (WTP) pour deux régimes obligatoires présentés hypothétiquement à l’adhésion. Les résultats confirment l’hypothèse selon laquelle la proposition d’une affiliation volontaire à un régime d’assurance obligatoire serait acceptée par la majorité des non couverts et que les WTP révélés pour cette affiliation seraient substantiels. Enfin, dans le chapitre trois, on insiste sur l'’importance de prendre en compte les attitudes protestataires en évaluant la progression vers la CSU
This thesis explores, in a four paper format, the possibility of extending social health insurance (SHI) schemes towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in presence of structural economic obstacles.The average treatment effects of two insurance schemes, MHI and MAS, on the utilization of outpatient and inpatient healthcare are estimated. The current Tunisian SHI schemes, despite improving utilization of healthcare services, are nevertheless incapable of achieving effective coverage of the whole population for needed services. Attaining the latter goal requires a strategy that targets the “trees” not the “forest”.Chapter two gets around major challenges to extending health insurance coverage and proposes an original approach by targeting informal workers and unemployed. A cross-sectional Contingent valuation (CV) study was carried out in Tunisia dealing with willingness-to-join and pay for two mandatory health and pension insurance schemes.Results support the hypotheses that the proposition of a voluntary affiliation to mandatory insurance schemes can be accepted by the majority of non-covered and that the WTP stated are substantial.Finally in chapter three we focus on methodological aspects that influence the value of the WTP. Our empirical results show that the voluntary affiliation to the formal health insurance scheme could be a step towards achieving UHC in Tunisia. Overall, we highlight the importance of taking into account protest positions for the evaluation of progress towards UHC

En France, la nécessaire rationalisation des moyens alloués aux hôpitaux a abouti à une concentration des ressources et une augmentation de la complexité des plateaux techniques. Leur pilotage et leur répartition territoriale s’avèrent d’autant plus difficile, soulevant ainsi la problématique de l’optimisation des systèmes de soins. L’utilisation des données massives produites pas ces systèmes pourrait constituer une nouvelle approche en matière d’analyse et d’aide à la décision. Méthode : A partir d’une réflexion sur la notion de performance, différentes approches d’optimisation préexistantes sont d’abord mis en évidence. Le bloc opératoire a été choisi en tant que terrain expérimental. Suit une analyse sur une fusion d’établissements en tant qu’exemple d’une approche d’optimisation par massification.Ces deux étapes permettent de défendre une approche alternative qui associe l’usage de données massives, la science des réseaux et la visualisation des données sous forme cartographique. Deux sets de séjours en chirurgie orthopédique sur la région ex-Midi-Pyrénées sont utilisés. L’enchainement des séjours de soins est considéré en tant en réseau de données. L’ensemble est projeté dans un environnement visuel développé en JavaScript et permettant une fouille dynamique du graphe. Résultats : La possibilité de visualiser des parcours de santé sous forme de graphes NŒUDS-LIENS est démontrée. Les graphes apportent une perception supplémentaire sur les enchainements de séjours et les redondances des parcours. Le caractère dynamique des graphes permet en outre leur fouille. L’approche visuelle subjective est complétée par une série de mesures objectives issues de la science des réseaux. Les plateaux techniques de soins produisent des données massives utiles à leur analyse et potentiellement à leur optimisation. La visualisation graphique de ces données associées à un cadre d’analyse tel que la science des réseaux donne des premiers indicateurs positifs avec notamment la mise en évidence de motifs redondants. La poursuite d’expérimentations à plus large échelle est requise pour valider, renforcer et diffuser ces observations et cette méthode
In France, the streamlining of means assigned hospitals result in concentration of resources ana growing complexily of heallhcare facilities. Piloting and planning (them turn out to be all the more difficult, thus leading of optimjzation problems. The use of massive data produced by these systems in association with network science an alternative approach for analyzing and improving decision-making support jn healthcare. Method : Various preexisting optimisation are first highblighted based on observations in operating theaters chosen as experirnentai sites. An analysis of merger of two hospitlas also follows as an example of an optimization method by massification. These two steps make it possible to defend an alternative approach that combines the use of big data science of networks data visualization techniques. Two sets of patient data in orthopedic surgery in the ex-Midi-Pyrénées region in France are used to create a network of all sequences of care. The whole is displayed in a visual environment developed in JavaScript allowing a dynamic mining of the graph. Results: Visualizing healthcare sequences in the form of nodes and links graphs has been sel out. The graphs provide an additional perception of' the redundancies of he healthcare pathways. The dynamic character of the graphs also allows their direct rnining. The initial visual approach is supplernented by a series of objcctive measures from the science of networks. Conciusion: Healthcare facilities produce massive data valuable for their analysis and optimization. Data visualizalion together with a framework such as network science gives prelimiaary encouraging indicators uncovering redondant healthcare pathway patterns. Furthev experimentations with various and larger sets of data is required to validate and strengthen these observations and methods

This study explored the roles played by the demographic and non-demographic characteristics of users and provider's characteristics in determining outpatient healthcare utilisation in Indonesia, and simulated the effects of these demographic, health insurance subscription and chronic disease factors on outpatient healthcare utilisation in the future. The study is expected to contribute to public policy by providing empirical evidence of the determinants of healthcare utilisation in Indonesia, filling a gap in research of roles of provider characteristics, and providing insights into how to incorporate non-demographic factors into utilisation projections. The study employed various statistical and mathematical tools, including discrete choice models for determinant analysis, cohort component methods for population projection and propensity methods for the projection of healthcare utilisation. Three main sets of data are used: the 2007 National Social Economic Survey (Susenas), the 2007 Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) and the 2007 Basic Health Survey (Riskesdas). For the population projections, the base population is drawn from the post-enumeration-adjusted 2010 Population Census. The study demonstrated that healthcare utilisation and choice of providers in Indonesia are determined by both demographic and non-demographic factors and, in general, this is in line with Andersen's behaviour framework of health service use. The study findings also support the notion that the effect of age on utilisation is not monotonic. The difference in association and the degree of influence of independent variables on the decision to visit and on choice of provider indicates that the decision to use healthcare and the decision to choose a provider is not simultaneous, but rather a two-stage process. High price of service and low numbers of doctors deters the use of health services. Distance and drug availability are also associated with the choice of providers. Response to provider characteristics is not uniform, but varies across the population. This study also indicates the presence of a 'bypassing phenomenon', which occurs when patients bypass nearer healthcare providers to seek a higher-quality provider. The size of the Indonesian population is projected to increase by 19.6% during 2010-2025. Due to this population growth, total healthcare utilisation is expected to increase by 25.7% over the same period, with the pattern of utilisation to follow the pattern of population increase. Compared to the effects of health insurance and chronic disease, demographic change will continue as the major driver of increased healthcare utilisation in the future. Further, for some age groups (for example, children and adult), the effect of health insurance and chronic disease will also be very significant. In the policy context, the study indicates that income-related inequity in access to healthcare services will not be a significant issue; however, inequity in access to high-quality providers will. Access to healthcare among children and the elderly from lower social economic backgrounds is substantially lower than for other cohorts, and it was also found that urban dwellers are more sensitive to price of service and less sensitive to distance to healthcare providers, while rural dwellers are the opposite.

This project assesses the role of the population at-risk-of-poverty on population health, more specifically on health status and healthcare utilisation, as indicators of the performance of the health system in place. Time-series cross-sectional data for primarily European countries is used to investigate variation in health outcomes and health care attributable to differences in poverty and other social determinants. The study reveals health system-independent effects of social determinants on life expectancy and effects of substantial magnitude on healthy life years for particular types of health systems. Observed effects on healthcare utilisation complement identified differences among health systems.

The question concerning the existence of syphilis in the pre-Columbian Old World has been debated from around the 1530’s when Fracastoro, Ruiz de Isla, Oviedo and Le Casas all published their thoughts on syphilis originating in the New World. However, syphilis may have existed in the Old World prior to Columbus as a mild infection under the disguise of many diseases including leprosy. Since then the debate has branched out to include other facets of evidence, including paleopathology and examination of DNA from bones. These facets have advanced our understanding of the disease and how it affects human remains but, have yet to solve its origins. The pre- and post-Columbian literature were re-evaluated to assess an overall view of why syphilis was seen as a new disease post-Columbus. The role of the events that led the French army of Charles VIII into Italy, that decisively contributed to the Columbian thesis needs to be discussed. This thesis re-examines through both literature and mathematical calculations, the possibility of infection from the New World through Columbus’ voyage, and infection through a mild form of syphilis (endemic treponematosis) which became inflamed through constant re-infection resulting in a superinfection. In addition, it suggests that mercury which was a source of medicine for syphilis can be used to support the presence of syphilis, even when there are minor pathognomonic signs of the disease in skeletal remains. Regardless, it must be taken into account that mercury was used to treat other skin diseases such as leprosy, therefore differential diagnosis is necessary to draw appropriate conclusions. Methods included the examination of pre-Columbian skeletal remains from various countries. The collections consist of Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt, Ancient Greek Metaponto, Oplontis (Pompeii), medieval Danish leprosarium and early medieval Polish Kolonia and Brześć Kujawski,. Small fragments were taken from bones and analysed by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The LA-ICP-MS is capable of measuring traces of mercury. The results suggest that the majority of skeletal remains show signs of syphilis were likely treated with mercury as mercury concentrations in bone have higher than the normal 0.1 ppm concentrations compared to those in control samples that lack pathological indicators. This suggests that people were using mercury to treat individuals with pathological signs indicative of syphilis prior to the siege of Naples in 1495. Furthermore, it adds supporting evidence that will nullify the New World as the source of condition.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Economics, 2019

This study explored and described the experiences of Eritrean immigrants regarding utilisation of healthcare services in Indianapolis. Qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was utilised. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview format, on eight conveniently selected Eritrean immigrants, living in Indianapolis. Data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Framework for data analysis. Three superordinate themes emerged from data analysis: Healthcare financing system, Positive side of healthcare services and Challenges related to utilisation of healthcare service. All these factors have an impact on the utilisation of the Healthcare services by Eritrean immigrants. Recommendations have been put forward to advocate for policy change regarding financing of healthcare services for immigrants and improved healthcare services to accommodate cultural diversity. Further research should be conducted on ways of improving utilisation of healthcare services by Eritrean immigrants in Indianapolis.
Public Health
M.A. (Health Studies)

Cohort study found that being insured and having longer exposure of health insurance significantly increased migrant workers' likelihood to use professional healthcare in Shenzhen, decreased their total occasions of professional healthcare utilisation, and were causally associated with a decrease in professional healthcare expenditures which were paid out-of-pocket in the 6 months of follow-up by migrant workers.
Internal migration has become a more and more prominent societal and economic phenomenon in mainland China and Shenzhen is one of the most frequently selected locales for rural-urban migrants. This thesis aims 1) to assess health status and to describe patterns of healthcare utilisation amongst migrant factory workers, 2) to follow up the sample over 6 months to understand the impact of health insurance participation on health service utilisation and health expenditures, and 3) to assess the implications for health policies.
Our results suggest that health strategies should take into consideration the specific health needs of the highly mobile factory migrant workers. Through insurance coverage, local health authorities may be able to help improve rural-urban migrant workers' health by improving services at community level, and incorporating psychological care in the services provided by Community Health Centres.
Questionnaire surveys were used in a representative sample from factory workers in Shenzhen. The baseline and follow-up studies were conducted during April to December 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
Results show that migrant factory workers in Shenzhen represent a broad combination of geographic complexity and have special socio-demographic characteristics. The results have specified some association between self-rated health and SES, and major correlates of depressive symptoms amongst migrant factory workers. The seroprevalence of antibodies to rubella amongst female migrant workers is too low to provide immunity in the population. Sex, age, education, sleeping hours and internet use were associated with being a current smoker. The crude two-week illness rate was 21.6%. More than half and 11.6% of sick migrant workers chose self-treatment or neglected their sickness, respectively. Self-perception of disease being not severe, lack of time and economic difficulties were the major explanations for not utilizing professional care.
Mou, Jin.
Adviser: Sian Meryl Griffiths.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: .
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 253-270).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Abstract also in Chinese.

Yes
There is global interest in the reconfiguration of community mental health services, including primary care, to improve clinical and cost effectiveness. This study seeks to describe patterns of service use, continuity of care, health risks, physical healthcare monitoring and the balance between primary and secondary mental healthcare for people with severe mental illness in receipt of secondary mental healthcare in the UK. We conducted an epidemiological medical records review in three UK sites. We identified 297 cases randomly selected from the three participating mental health services. Data were manually extracted from electronic patient medical records from both secondary and primary care, for a 2-year period (2012-2014). Continuous data were summarised by mean and s.d. or median and interquartile range (IQR). Categorical data were summarised as percentages. The majority of care was from secondary care practitioners: of the 18 210 direct contacts recorded, 76% were from secondary care (median, 36.5; IQR, 14-68) and 24% were from primary care (median, 10; IQR, 5-20). There was evidence of poor longitudinal continuity: in primary care, 31% of people had poor longitudinal continuity (Modified Modified Continuity Index ≤0.5), and 43% had a single named care coordinator in secondary care services over the 2 years. The study indicates scope for improvement in supporting mental health service delivery in primary care. Greater knowledge of how care is organised presents an opportunity to ensure some rebalancing of the care that all people with severe mental illness receive, when they need it. A future publication will examine differences between the three sites that participated in this study.
This paper presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research programme (grant reference no. RP-PG-0611-20004). Professors Siobhan Reilly, Richard Byng and Max Birchwood are partially supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) for North West Coast, Care South West Peninsula and West Midlands, respectively.

Yes
There is global interest in the reconfiguration of community mental health services, including primary care, to improve clinical and cost effectiveness. This study seeks to describe patterns of service use, continuity of care, health risks, physical healthcare monitoring and the balance between primary and secondary mental healthcare for people with severe mental illness in receipt of secondary mental healthcare in the UK. We conducted an epidemiological medical records review in three UK sites. We identified 297 cases randomly selected from the three participating mental health services. Data were manually extracted from electronic patient medical records from both secondary and primary care, for a 2-year period (2012-2014). Continuous data were summarised by mean and s.d. or median and interquartile range (IQR). Categorical data were summarised as percentages. The majority of care was from secondary care practitioners: of the 18 210 direct contacts recorded, 76% were from secondary care (median, 36.5; IQR, 14-68) and 24% were from primary care (median, 10; IQR, 5-20). There was evidence of poor longitudinal continuity: in primary care, 31% of people had poor longitudinal continuity (Modified Modified Continuity Index ≤0.5), and 43% had a single named care coordinator in secondary care services over the 2 years. The study indicates scope for improvement in supporting mental health service delivery in primary care. Greater knowledge of how care is organised presents an opportunity to ensure some rebalancing of the care that all people with severe mental illness receive, when they need it. A future publication will examine differences between the three sites that participated in this study.
This paper presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research programme (grant reference no. RP-PG-0611-20004). Professors Siobhan Reilly, Richard Byng and Max Birchwood are partially supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) for North West Coast, Care South West Peninsula and West Midlands, respectively.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways and affects many people regardless of their age, gender, race and socioeconomic status. Since asthma is recognised as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in people and especially in South Africa, the prescribing patterns, prevalence and medication cost of asthma in South Africa are saliently important and need to be investigated. A non-experimental, quantitative retrospective drug utilisation review was conducted on medicine claims data of a pharmaceutical benefit management company in a section of the private health care sector of South Africa. The study period was divided into four annual time periods (1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008, 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009, 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010 and 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011). The prescribing patterns and cost of asthma medication were investigated and stratified according to province, age and gender. Patients were included if the prescriptions which were provided by the health care practitioners matched the Chronic Disease List (CDL) of South Africa and the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) coding for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Data analysis was conducted by means of the SAS 9.3® computer package. Asthma patients were divided according to different age groups (there were five different age groups for this study), gender and geographical areas of South Africa. The study indicated a steady increase in the prevalence of asthma patients from 0.82% (n = 7949) in 2008 to 1.18% (n = 15 423) in 2009 and reached a minimum of 0.79% (n = 8554) in 2011. Analysis of the prevalence regarding geographical areas in South Africa suggested that Gauteng had the highest number [n = 17 696, (0.85%)] of asthma patients throughout the study period, followed by KwaZulu Natal [n = 8 628, 1.16%)] and the Western Cape [(n = 8513, 0.97%) (p < 0.05)]. The prevalence of asthma in female patients [0.89% (n = 26 588)] was higher than in their male counterparts [0.79% (n = 19 244)] (p > 0.05). The results showed that asthma was not as common chronic disease in children. The total number of asthma patients younger than 7 years represented 0.64% (n = 2 909). It was found that patients over 65 years of age showed the highest prevalence of the five age groups [1.94% (n = 13 403) (p < 0.05)]. The average number of asthma prescriptions per patient per year was 8.28 (95% CI, 8.16- 8.40) and 5.15 (95% CI, 5.06-5.23) in 2008 and 2011, respectively. The number of asthma items per prescription varied from 1.55 (95% CI, 1.55-1.56) in 2008 to 1.40 (95% CI, 1.39- 1.40) in 2011. Medication from the MIMS® pharmacological group (anti-asthmatics and bronchodilators) was used to identify asthma medication. The top three asthma medication with the highest prevalence in the study period were the anti-inflammatory inhaler of fluticasone (n = 39 721) followed by the single item combination product of budesonide/ formoterol (n = 25 121) and salbutamol (n = 24 296). The influence of COPD on asthma treatment and the costimplication thereof were investigated. Medication from the MIMS® pharmacological group (anti-asthmatics and bronchodilators) was used to identify COPD medication. This study also showed that COPD had an influence in the economic burden of the South African asthma population. The cost of medication is responsible for the single largest direct cost involved in the economic burden of asthma. This study showed that asthma represented 0.88% of the direct medication cost in the study (excluding hospitalisation and indirect cost). The average cost per prescription and average cost per asthma item both increased throughout the study period. The prescribing patterns for the different medication used in the treatment of asthma were investigated and recommendations for further research in this field of study were made.
MPharm (Pharmacy Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

L’infection par le virus de l’hépatite C (VHC) est l’un des principaux problèmes de santé publique chez les utilisateurs de drogues injectables (UDI). Actuellement, plusieurs outils sont disponibles pour réduire le fardeau du VHC dans cette population. Ceux-ci incluent des programmes de réduction des méfaits, tels que le traitement par un opioïde agoniste (TAO), pouvant réduire le risque d'infection par le VHC, ainsi que des traitements antiviraux extrêmement efficaces pour éradiquer le virus parmi les infectés. Plus récemment, il y a eu un intérêt national et international à éliminer le VHC en tant que menace pour la santé publique d'ici 2030, tout en priorisant les UDI dans les efforts de prévention et traitement. Parallèlement à ce mouvement, plus globalement, le fardeau des méfaits liés aux pratiques d’injection chez les UDI, tels que la surdose, soulignent la nécessité d’adopter une vision plus large sur leur santé. Dans l’ensemble, cette thèse vise à combler certaines lacunes dans les connaissances vis-à-vis de l’élimination du VHC chez les UDI. Premièrement, puisque le lien entre l’adéquation du dosage des TAO et le risque d’infection au VHC est peu connu, j’examine cette relation dans un échantillon d’UDI suivis dans la cohorte HEPCO à Montréal. Les résultats indiquent que le risque d'infection par le VHC ne serait pas systématiquement réduit chez toutes les personnes recevant des TAO, mais plutôt que ce risque varie en fonction de la dose prescrite et de l’adéquation du dosage telle que perçue par le patient. Ces résultats soulignent qu’un élargissement de l'accès aux TAO ne serait pas suffisant pour atteindre les objectifs de prévention et d'élimination du VHC, et que l’adéquation du dosage devrait être prise en compte dans le cadre de nos efforts de prévention. Deuxièmement, l’accès aux traitements antiviraux est faible chez les UDI, en partie à cause des préoccupations des prestataires et des décideurs politiques qui craignent une augmentation de la consommation de drogues et des comportements à risque après le traitement. En capitalisant sur deux études différentes - la cohorte IMPACT à Montréal et les essais SIMPLIFY / D3FEAT menés dans plusieurs pays - je montre que les comportements liés à la drogue diminuent ou restent stables après le traitement du VHC. Ensemble, ces deux études suggèrent que les préoccupations liées à une consommation élevée de drogue ou à une hausse des comportements à risque après le traitement ne seraient pas fondées. Ainsi, ces résultats appuient davantage une augmentation de l’accès au traitement chez les UDI. Troisièmement, allant au-delà du VHC en tant que problématique principale, en capitalisant une fois de plus sur les données collectées dans HEPCO, j’examine les associations entre trois facteurs - le TAO, le logement et le revenu - et la fréquence d’injection chez les UDI. Puisque la consommation de drogues est dynamique dans le temps, j'examine dans quelle mesure ces trois facteurs sont liés à la fréquence d’injection chez des UDI ayant des trajectoires d’injection variées. Nos résultats indiquent que la stabilité socioéconomique et le TAO seraient systématiquement liés à une fréquence d'injection inférieure chez les UDI, quelles que soit leurs trajectoires d’injection sous-jacentes. Globalement, ces résultats suggèrent qu’il y aurait des moyens de soutenir tous les UDI à atteindre de petits changements comportementaux qui pourraient réduire les risques liés aux pratiques d’injection, qu’ils soient ou non en mesure d’arrêter l’injection de drogues. En conclusion, alors que presque tous les pays ont lancé un effort mondial pour éliminer le VHC, des efforts sont nécessaires pour optimiser les programmes de réduction des méfaits bien établis afin de réduire la transmission du VHC, et d’accroître l’accès au traitement chez ceux qui sont infectés, tout en considérant les besoins et les préoccupations des communautés touchées. Cette thèse a fourni des données permettant d’éclairer (i) l’optimisation des TAO dans la prévention de la transmission du VHC, (ii) l’élargissement de l’accès au traitement du VHC et (iii) l’accès à des logements et revenus stables afin de réduire plus globalement les risques liés aux pratiques d’injection chez les UDI. Ainsi, ces résultats pourraient aider à réduire le fardeau du VHC chez les UDI et à soutenir le progrès vers l'élimination du VHC.
Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main public health concerns affecting people who inject drugs (PWID). Although no effective prophylactic vaccine currently exists to prevent acquisition of HCV, a number of other tools are available to curb the HCV burden among PWID. These include harm-reduction programs, such as opioid agonist treatment (OAT), which can reduce the risk of HCV infection among those susceptible, and highly effective antiviral therapies to eradicate the virus among those who are infected. In recent years, there has been national and international interest in eliminating HCV as a public health threat by 2030, prioritising PWID in prevention and treatment efforts given that they are the population most affected. In parallel to this global effort, the high prevalence of injection-related harms among PWID that are unrelated to HCV, such as overdose, highlight a need to adopt a broader view on drug user health. Overall, this thesis is concerned with addressing some of the knowledge gaps and barriers that remain to achieving HCV elimination in PWID. First, because little is known about the importance of OAT dosage in influencing the risk of HCV acquisition, I examine this relationship in a sample of PWID followed in the Hepatitis Cohort (HEPCO) in Montreal. Findings indicate that the risk of HCV infection may not be systematically reduced for everyone receiving OAT and rather, that the risk of infection varies considerably according to the level of the prescribed OAT dosage and patient-perceived dosage adequacy. These findings suggest that simply scaling-up OAT access may not be sufficient to achieving the HCV elimination goals, and that the dosage of treatment should be considered as part of prevention efforts. Second, uptake of HCV treatment is low among PWID, partly due to concerns among providers and policymakers that drug use and injection risk behaviours may increase following treatment, thereby negating the benefits of therapy. Capitalising on two different studies - the IMPACT Cohort in Montreal and the SIMPLIFY/D3FEAT trials conducted in several countries - I illustrate that drug-related behaviours decrease or remain stable following HCV treatment. Together, these two studies suggest that concerns of escalating drug use or risk behaviours following HCV treatment are unfounded, further supporting the importance of expanding access to therapy among PWID. Third, moving beyond HCV as the primary focus of research, and capitalising once more on data collected in HEPCO, I examine the associations between three factors- OAT, housing and income, and patterns of injection frequency among PWID. Recognizing that injection patterns are dynamic over time, I examine the extent to which these three factors relate to injection frequencies among PWID with diverse trajectories of injection drug use, followed over a period of 7.5 years. Our findings indicate that socioeconomic stability and OAT are consistently associated with a lower injection frequency among all PWID, irrespective of their underlying injection trajectory and whether or not they are on a path to cessation. These findings suggest that there may be ways to support PWID in making small behavioral changes that could reduce their risks of injection-related harms, irrespective of whether or not they are in a position to stop injecting. In conclusion, at a time when many countries have embarked onto a global effort to eliminate HCV, efforts are needed to ensure that well-evidenced harm-reduction programs are optimised to reduce transmission of HCV, treatment for HCV infection is scaled-up among those who are infected ,and efforts do not overlook the basic needs and concerns of affected communities. This thesis provided data to help inform (i) optimisation of OAT provision for the prevention of HCV transmission, (ii) expanded access to HCV treatment, and (iii) access to stable housing and income to reduce the risk of injection-related harms among PWID. Ultimately, findings could contribute to reducing the HCV burden among PWID, helping move towards HCV elimination and, more broadly, improving the overall health of this marginalised group.

Improving the quality of newborn care services and accelerating the service utilization of sick young infants is required to contribute to the reduction of neonatal mortality and improve the wellbeing of the newborns. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of neonatal healthcare services in the primary healthcare units in the north-west of Ethiopia and develop guideline for effective neonatal care. A mixed method approach with a sequential explanatory design was employed to explore factors affecting the effectiveness of the neonatal healthcare services. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were administered to 221 health workers and health extension workers in 142 health facilities; and service statistics abstracted for 767 sick young infants’ from the sick young infant registers. Data was entered in the EpiData 3.1, exported to SPSS and STATA for analysis. In the qualitative study, twenty-six participants from the health centers and health posts were interviewed through focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was undertaken to explore factors affecting neonatal healthcare services. Results: The quality of newborn care with the domains of newborn resuscitation, follow-up care after resuscitation and thermal care; immediate care and breastfeeding advice for very low birthweight babies were found to be moderate at primary hospitals and urban health centres; low at rural health centres and health posts. The availability of essential equipment is significantly associated with the quality of neonatal care provision in the health facilities (p < 0.05). More than forty percent of health facilities were not meeting the quality of case management tasks for sick young infants, and the newborn care knowledge of health providers is significantly associated with the quality of sick young infants’ management (p < 0.05). The sick young infants’ service utilisation was only 6.3 percent from the expected sick young infants’ population. Overall, the effectiveness of the neonatal healthcare services has a significant association with the health facilitates readiness [95%CI: 0.134-0.768]. Conclusion: The quality of neonatal healthcare provision is low to moderate; and the service utilization of sick young infants is very low. Thus, the rural health centers and health posts should be prioritised for the effective neonatal care.
Health Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Objectif : Des recherches antérieures ont identifié une mauvaise utilisation des soins prénataux chez les migrants sans assurance maladie au Canada. Cependant, les facteurs qui influencent cette utilisation restent largement inexplorés. L'objectif de cette étude était de quantifier l'utilisation des soins prénataux dans ce groupe et d'identifier les barrières et les facteurs facilitant l'utilisation des soins prénataux. Méthodes : Une étude transversale sur les migrants sans assurance maladie à Montréal, Canada, a été menée entre janvier 2016 et août 2017. Les participants ont été recrutés dans une clinique bénévole locale et dans la communauté en utilisant un échantillonnage à partir de lieux et en boule de neige. Les mesures des résultats comprenaient l'utilisation des soins prénataux, l'initiation des soins prénataux et l'adéquation des soins prénataux. L'analyse de régression a identifié les barrières et les facteurs facilitant l'utilisation des soins prénataux. Résultats : 125 grossesses antérieures au Canada ont été recensées parmi 101 femmes. 65.0% des grossesses impliquaient une utilisation des soins prénataux et 44.6% impliquaient un début tôt des soins. Parmi les 62 grossesses menées à terme, 29.5% ont reçu des soins prénataux adéquats. Les femmes ≥35 ans (OR 0.13, IC à 95%: 0.03-0.54, p = 0.01), entre 18 et 24 ans (OR 0.30, IC à 95%: 0.09-0.99, p=0.049), et celles qui ne savaient pas où consulter (OR 0.25, IC à 95%: 0.06-0.99, p=0.049) avaient significativement moins de chances (p <0.05) d’utiliser les soins prénataux. Les femmes âgées de 30 à 34 ans (OR 0.27, IC à 95%: 0.10-0.72, p=0.01) avaient significativement moins de chances (p <0.05) de commencer tôt les soins prénataux. En revanche, les femmes mariées ou en union de fait (OR 3.16, IC à 95%: 1.04-9.62, p=0.04) avaient significativement plus de chances (p <0.05) de commencer tôt les soins prénataux. Conclusion : Notre étude a révélé que l'utilisation des soins prénataux chez les migrants sans assurance était très faible. Les facteurs influençant l'utilisation des soins prénatals étaient variés et liés à la démographie, au réseau social et à la migration. Les politiques futures devraient viser à améliorer l'accès aux soins prénatals au sein de cette population vulnérable.
Objective: Previous research has identified poor prenatal care use among uninsured migrants in Canada, however, the factors influencing this usage remain largely unexplored. The study objective was to quantify the use of prenatal care among this group and to identify the barriers and facilitating factors to prenatal care use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of uninsured migrants in Montreal, Canada was carried out between January 2016 and August 2017. Participants were recruited from a local volunteer clinic and from the community using venue-based and snowball sampling. Outcome measures included prenatal care use, prenatal care initiation, and prenatal care adequacy. Regression analysis identified barriers and facilitating factors to prenatal care use. Results: 125 previous pregnancies in Canada were identified among 101 women. 65.0% of pregnancies involved prenatal care use and 44.6% involved an early initiation of care. Among the 62 pregnancies carried to term, 29.5% received adequate prenatal care. Women ≥35 years of age (OR 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03-0.54, p=0.01), between the ages of 18-24 (OR 0.30, 95% CI: 0.09-0.99, p=0.049), and those who did not know where to consult (OR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.06-0.99, p=0.049) were significantly less likely (p<0.05) to use prenatal care. Women aged 30-34 (OR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.10-0.72, p=0.01) were significantly less likely (p<0.05) to initiate prenatal care early. In contrast, women who were married or in common-law relationships (OR 3.16, 95% CI: 1.04-9.62, p=0.04) were significantly more likely (p<0.05) to initiate prenatal care early. Conclusion: Our study found that prenatal care use among uninsured migrants was very poor. Factors influencing prenatal care use were varied and related to demographics, social network, and migration. Future policy should aim to improve access to prenatal care among this vulnerable population.

Les organisations de santé sont caractérisées par la complexité de leurs activités et un haut niveau de fragmentation des soins qui amènent inévitablement des enjeux de coordination de services. Le principal mécanisme de coordination à leur disposition, la standardisation des connaissances et de l’expertise, est un mécanisme à la fois essentiel, mais limité. Ainsi, le défi demeure pour une organisation de santé de favoriser une utilisation des connaissances à un plan organisationnel. Le présent projet évalue comment une structure organisationnelle visant la mobilisation et l’utilisation des connaissances dans les prises de décision contribue à améliorer la coordination des services d’une organisation de santé. La recherche s’appuie sur un cas précis : le Bureau de soutien à la transition (BST) du Centre universitaire de santé de McGill (CUSM). L’analyse utilise un cadre conceptuel de création des connaissances organisationnelles inspiré des travaux de Nonaka et al. Les données ont été récoltées à partir d’observations, d’analyses documentaires et d’entrevues. Cette évaluation fondée sur la théorie explique comment les processus de conversion des connaissances tacites et explicites permettent la création de nouvelles connaissances organisationnelles et contribue à l’amélioration de la coordination des services. L’évaluation démontre l’influence des facteurs contextuels sur les processus de création/utilisation de connaissances. La recherche montre qu’il est nécessaire de conceptualiser différemment l’utilisation des données empiriques dans les prises de décision en mettant en évidence leur rôle spécifique dans le processus social de création des connaissances. Nous proposons une nouvelle typologie d’utilisation des connaissances dans les prises de décision. Nous démontrons également comment une structure organisationnelle comme le BST peut contribuer à la coordination des soins et services dans une organisation de santé. Les résultats enrichissent aussi le corpus de connaissances scientifiques sur la gouvernance et la transformation des organisations.
Health organizations are characterized by the complexity of their activities and a high level of care fragmentation that inevitably result in service coordination stakes. Their main coordination mechanism, knowledge and expertise standardization is an essential, but limited, mechanism. Thus, the challenge still stands for a health organization to promote knowledge utilization at an organizational level. This project evaluates how an organizational structure aiming at mobilization and knowledge utilization in decision making helps to improve the coordination services in a health organization. This research relies on a specific case: the Transition Support Office (TSO) of the McGill University Health Center (MUHC). The analysis uses a conceptual framework of organizational knowledge creation inspired by the work of Nonaka et al. Data have been collected by observations, documentary and interview analyses. This theory driven evaluation explains how the conversion process of tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge allows the dissemination and creation of new organizational knowledge and contributes to the improvement of service coordination. The evaluation demonstrates the influence of contextual factors on the processes of knowledge creation/utilization. The research shows that it is necessary to otherwise conceptualize the use of empirical data in decision making by highlighting their specific role in the social process of knowledge creation. We propose a new knowledge use typology in decision making. We also show how an organizational structure like the TSO can contribute to the care and service coordination in a health organization. Results also enrich the scientific knowledge on governance and organization transformation.

La scoliose idiopathique de l’adolescent (SIA) est le type de déformation musculosquelettique le plus fréquent dans la population pédiatrique, pour une prévalence d’environ 2,0%. Depuis l’arrêt des programmes scolaires de dépistage de la SIA dans les années 1980 au Canada, nous ne disposions d’aucune donnée sur l’utilisation des services de santé par les patients présentant une SIA suspectée. En l’absence de tels programmes, des changements dans les patrons d’utilisation des services spécialisés d’orthopédie pédiatrique sont anticipés. La thèse a donc pour but d’étudier la pertinence de la référence dans ces services des jeunes avec SIA suspectée. Elle est structurée autour de trois principaux objectifs. 1) Valider un instrument de mesure de la morbidité perçue (perception des symptômes) dans la clientèle d’orthopédie pédiatrique; 2) Étudier la relation entre la morbidité perçue par les profanes (le jeune et le parent) et la morbidité objectivée par les experts; 3) Caractériser les itinéraires de soins des patients avec SIA suspectée, de façon à en élaborer une taxonomie et à analyser les relations entre ceux-ci et la pertinence de la référence. En 2006-2007, une vaste enquête a été réalisée dans les cinq cliniques d’orthopédie pédiatrique du Sud-Ouest du Québec : 831 patients référés ont été recrutés. Ils furent classés selon des critères de pertinence de la référence (inappropriée, appropriée ou tardive) définis en fonction de l’amplitude de la courbe rachidienne et de la maturité squelettique à cette première visite. La morbidité perçue par les profanes a été opérationnalisée par la gravité, l’urgence, les douleurs, l’impact sur l’image de soi et la santé générale. L’ensemble des consultations médicales et paramédicales effectuées en amont de la consultation en orthopédie pédiatrique a été documenté par questionnaire auprès des familles. En s’appuyant sur le Modèle comportemental de l’utilisation des services d’Andersen, les facteurs (dits de facilitation et de capacité) individuels, relatifs aux professionnels et au système ont été considérés comme variables d’ajustement dans l’étude des relations entre la morbidité perçue ou les itinéraires de soins et la pertinence de la référence. Les principales conclusions de cette étude sont : i) Nous disposons d’instruments fidèles (alpha de Cronbach entre 0,79 et 0,86) et valides (validité de construit, concomitante et capacité discriminante) pour mesurer la perception de la morbidité dans la population adolescente francophone qui consulte en orthopédie pédiatrique; ii) Les profanes jouent un rôle important dans la suspicion de la scoliose (53% des cas) et leur perception de la morbidité est directement associée à la morbidité objectivée par les professionnels; iii) Le case-mix actuel en orthopédie est jugé non optimal en regard de la pertinence de la référence, les mécanismes actuels entraînant un nombre considérable de références inappropriées (38%) et tardives (18%) en soins spécialisés d’orthopédie pédiatrique; iv) Il existe une grande diversité de professionnels par qui sont vus les jeunes avec SIA suspectée ainsi qu’une variabilité des parcours de soins en amont de la consultation en orthopédie, et v) La continuité des soins manifestée dans les itinéraires, notamment via la source régulière de soins de l’enfant, est favorable à la diminution des références tardives (OR=0,32 [0,17-0,59]). Les retombées de cette thèse se veulent des contributions à l’avancement des connaissances et ouvrent sur des propositions d’initiatives de transfert des connaissances auprès des professionnels de la première ligne. De telles initiatives visent la sensibilisation à cette condition de santé et le soutien à la prise de décision de même qu’une meilleure coordination des demandes de consultation pour une référence appropriée et en temps opportun.
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the type of musculoskeletal deformity most frequently encountered in the pediatric population with a prevalence of approximately 2.0%. Since the Canadian school screening programs were discontinued in the 1980s, data detailing health service utilization or typical reference patterns for patients with suspected AIS are no longer available. Without such programs, changes in the utilization patterns of pediatric orthopedic specialized services are anticipated. The thesis therefore aims to study the appropriateness of referral of youths with suspected AIS. It comprises three main objectives: 1) To validate a measurement tool based on perceived morbidity (perception of the symptoms) in the orthopedic pediatric patient population, 2) To study the relationships between morbidity perceived by lay persons (the young patient and his parent), and the objective morbidity determined by medical professionals, 3) To characterize the healthcare service pathways of suspected AIS cases upstream of their first orthopedic consultation in order to define a taxonomy of the pathways and analyse their relationships with the appropriateness of referral. In 2006-2007, an extensive survey conducted in the five clinics serving southwest Quebec recruited 831 patients. They were categorized using criteria for the appropriateness of referral (inappropriate, appropriate or late) based on the amplitude of the main spinal curve and skeletal maturity at the first visit. Lay perceived morbidity was operationalized according to the seriousness, urgency, pain, self-image and general perceived health. Medical and paramedical visits upstream of the pediatric orthopedic consultation were documented with questionnaires to the families. Based on Andersen’s Health Behavior Model, the individual (facilitating and enabling), professional and systemic factors were considered as control variables in the study of associations between perceived morbidity or healthcare trajectories, and appropriateness of referral. The main conclusions of the thesis are: i) Reliable (Cronbach alpha between 0.79 and 0.86) and valid (construct, concurrent and discriminant validity) measurement tools are available to evaluate the perceived morbidity in the French-speaking adolescent population that consults in pediatric orthopedics, ii) Lay stakeholders play an important role in the suspicion of scoliosis (53% of cases) with their perceived morbidity directly related to the objective morbidity, and therefore associated to the appropriateness of referral, iii) The current orthopedic casemix is considered suboptimal with regards to the appropriateness of referral, and the actual mechanisms for reference are in fact responsible for a large number of inappropriate (38%) and late (18%) referrals to specialized pediatric orthopedic services, iv) Adolescents with suspected AIS consult with a wide range of health specialists resulting in a large variety of healthcare pathways upstream of the orthopedic consultation, and v) Continuity of healthcare services, mainly through a regular source of care for the child, is favourable to a reduction in late referrals (OR=0.32 [0.17-0.59]). This thesis is intended to contribute to the advancement of conceptual, empirical and applied knowledge leading to a series of knowledge translation initiatives targeting primary health care providers. Such initiatives have the potential to increase awareness of the condition, to support decision-making as well as to improve the coordination of consultation requests, thus promoting appropriateness and timeliness of referrals.

Introduction Chaque année, 289 000 femmes décèdent des complications reliées à la grossesse et à l’accouchement, et 2.9 millions de nouveau-nés décèdent avant d’atteindre 28 jours de vie. La quasi-totalité (99%) des décès maternels et néonataux ont cours dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire (PRFI). L’utilisation des services obstétricaux essentiels, incluant l’assistance qualifiée à l’accouchement (AA) et les services postnataux, contribue largement à la réduction de la morbidité et de la mortalité maternelle et néonatale. Il est donc essentiel d’évaluer les déterminants et les inégalités de couverture de ces services, en vue d’informer l’élaboration de politiques et de programmes de santé dans les PRFI. Objectifs 1. Étudier systématiquement les déterminants et inégalités socioéconomiques, géographiques et démographiques dans l’utilisation des services de santé postnataux dans les PRFI. 2. Évaluer l’effet de la politique de subvention des frais aux usagers introduite au Burkina Faso en 2007 sur les taux d’utilisation de l’assistance qualifiée à l’accouchement, en fonction du statut socioéconomique (SSE). Méthodes 1. Nous avons réalisé une revue systématique sur l’utilisation des services postnataux dans les PRFI, en fonction des déterminants socioéconomiques, géographiques et démographiques. Notre étude incluait une méta-analyse de l’utilisation des services selon les quintiles de SSE et le milieu de vie (urbain vs. rural). 2. Nous avons utilisé un devis quasi-expérimental. Les sources de données consistaient en deux sondages représentatifs (n=1408 et n=1403), conduits respectivement en 2008 et 2010 auprès de femmes des districts sanitaires de Houndé et de Ziniaré au Burkina Faso, en plus d’une enquête sur la qualité structurelle des soins offerts dans les centres de santé primaire. Nous avons utilisé des modèles de régression de Poisson, multi-niveaux et segmentés, afin d’évaluer l’effet de la politique de subvention sur les taux d’AA. Nous avons estimé des ratios et différences de taux d’incidence ajustés, en fonction du SSE et du temps écoulé depuis l’introduction de la subvention. Résultats 1. Les estimés de ratio de cotes (RC) agrégés (IC 95%) pour les femmes de SSE élevé (5e quintile ou Q5), Q4, Q3 et Q2 (référence : quintile le plus pauvre, Q1) étaient respectivement : 2.27 (1.75 – 2.93); 1.60 (1.30-1.98); 1.32 (1.12-1.55); et 1.14 (0.96-1.34). La méta-analyse a aussi démontré un gradient d’utilisation des services postnataux entre les femmes urbaines et rurales : RC (IC 95%) = 1.36 (1.01-1.81). L’évaluation narrative a par ailleurs identifié une différence dans la couverture de services selon le niveau d’éducation. 2. Pour les femmes de faible SSE, le taux d’AA était 24% plus élevé (IC 95% : 4-46%) immédiatement après l’introduction de la subvention, en comparaison au taux attendu en l’absence de ladite subvention. L’ampleur de l’effet a diminué dans le temps, correspondant à des estimés (IC 95%) de 22% (3-45%) à 6 mois, 20% (1-43%) à 12 mois, et 17% (-4-42%) à 24 mois après l’introduction de la subvention. La force d’association variait selon les strates de SSE, l’effet le plus prononcé étant observé au sein du SSE le plus faible. Conclusions 1. L’utilisation des services postnataux demeure inéquitable selon le SSE et l’accessibilité géographique aux formations sanitaires dans les PRFI. 2. Notre étude suggère que l’introduction de la subvention des frais aux usagers au Burkina Faso résulte en une augmentation soutenue dans le taux d’assistance qualifiée à l’accouchement, particulièrement chez les femmes de faible SSE. Cette évidence scientifique devrait alimenter l’élaboration de programmes de santé materno-infantile, en plus de guider la planification de politiques et le renforcement des systèmes de santé des PRFI.
Background Each year, 289 000 women die from complications related to pregnancy, childbirth or the postnatal period, and 2.9 million newborns decease before reaching 28 days of life. The near totality (99%) of maternal and neonatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Utilization of essential obstetric care services including skilled birth attendance (SBA) and postnatal care (PNC) largely contributes to the reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is a strong need to assess the determinants and inequalities in coverage of SBA and PNC services, to inform health policy planning. Objectives 1. Systematically assess the socioeconomic, geographic and demographic inequalities in PNC services utilization in LMICs. 2. Evaluate the effect of Burkina Faso’s 2007 user-fee subsidy policy on SBA rate across socioeconomic status (SES) strata. Methods 1. We conducted a systematic review of the association between PNC services utilization and key determinants, including a meta-analysis of PNC use across socioeconomic status quintiles, and place of residence (urban vs. rural). 2. We used a quasi-experimental design. The data sources were two representative surveys (n=1408 and n=1403) carried out in 2008 and 2010, respectively, of women from Houndé and Ziniaré health districts of Burkina Faso, and a survey of health centres assessing structural quality of care. Multilevel segmented Poisson regression models were used to assess the effect of subsidy on SBA rate. We estimated adjusted rate ratios and rate differences as a function of time and socioeconomic status level. Results 1. The pooled odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) estimates for highest SES women (quintile 5, Q5), Q4, Q3 and Q2 (reference: poorest quintile, Q1) were respectively: 2.27 (1.75 – 2.93); 1.60 (1.30-1.98); 1.32 (1.12-1.55); and 1.14 (0.96-1.34). Meta-analysis also showed a PNC utilization divide between urban and rural women: OR (95% CI) = 1.36 (1.01-1.81). Narrative assessment of studies identified a gradient in PNC coverage across education levels. 2. For low-SES women, immediately upon the introduction of the subsidy policy, the rate of SBA was 24% higher (95% CI: 4-46%) than expected in the absence of subsidy policy introduction. The magnitude of the apparent effect decreased over time, with the corresponding estimates (95% CI) being 22% (3-45%) at 6 months, 20% (1-43%) at 12 months, and 17% (-4-42%) at 24 months after the policy introduction. Furthermore, the magnitude of the association varied across SES strata, with the apparent effect being most pronounced in the low SES stratum. Conclusions 1. PNC utilization remains inequitable across socioeconomic status and geographic access to health facilities in LMICs. 2. Our study suggests that introduction of user fee subsidy in Burkina Faso resulted in sustained increase in the rate of SBA, especially among low-SES women. This evidence should inform maternal and child health programmes and guide health policies and health care systems in LMICs.