scholarly journals Canadian surgeon and resident involvement in international plastic surgery

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. E361-E363
Author(s):  
Ethan Sanders ◽  
Johanna Dobransky ◽  
Lara Cheaitani ◽  
Nicole Harris ◽  
Allan Liew ◽  
...  

Surgery has become increasingly recognized as an important component of health care in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Many surgeons from high income countries (HICs) are interested in working on improving access to surgery in LMICs. We sought to evaluate the involvement and potential barriers of Canadian plastic surgeons and plastic surgery residents in international work with an online survey. The survey indicated that plastic surgery residents have a high interest and involvement in international electives, with 45% of graduating residents previously involved. About 40% of respondents were involved in international projects, and academic plastic surgeons were more frequently involved than community surgeons. Taking time off work and personal/family commitments were cited as the greatest obstacles for those who are currently involved, whereas finding opportunities was the biggest challenge for those who would like to participate in the future.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110340
Author(s):  
Ratna Devi ◽  
Felicity Goodyear-Smith ◽  
Kannan Subramaniam ◽  
Jessica McCormack ◽  
Amanda Calder ◽  
...  

We sought to gain insights into the impacts of COVID-19 and associated control measures on health and health care of patients from low- and middle-income countries with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health conditions, using an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common concern for the 1487 patients who took part was contracting COVID-19 when they accessed health care. Of those infected with COVID-19, half said that their health had been worse since being infected. Collectively, most people reported an increase in feelings of stress and loneliness. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a range of health care impacts on patients with noncommunicable diseases, including constraints on access to care and health effects, particularly mental well-being.


Author(s):  
Chris Bullen ◽  
Jessica McCormack ◽  
Amanda Calder ◽  
Varsha Parag ◽  
Kannan Subramaniam ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where people may have limited access to affordable quality care, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a particularly adverse impact on the health and healthcare of individuals with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). A World Health Organization survey found that disruption of delivery of healthcare for NCDs was more significant in LMICs than in high-income countries. However, the study did not elicit insights into the day-to-day impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare by front-line healthcare workers (FLHCWs). Aim: To gain insights directly from FLHCWs working in countries with a high NCD burden, and thereby identify opportunities to improve the provision of healthcare during the current pandemic and in future healthcare emergencies. Methods: We recruited selected frontline healthcare workers (general practitioners, pharmacists, and other medical specialists) from nine countries to complete an online survey (n = 1347). Survey questions focused on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and NCDs; barriers to clinical care during the pandemic; and innovative responses to the many challenges presented by the pandemic. Findings: The majority of FLHCWs responding to our survey reported that their care of patients had been impacted both adversely and positively by the public health measures imposed. Most FLHCs (95%) reported a deterioration in the mental health of their patients. Conclusions: Continuity of care for NCDs as part of pandemic preparedness is needed so that chronic conditions are not exacerbated by public health measures and the direct impacts of the pandemic.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arafat Tfayli ◽  
Sally Temraz ◽  
Rachel Abou Mrad ◽  
Ali Shamseddine

Breast cancer is a major health care problem that affects more than one million women yearly. While it is traditionally thought of as a disease of the industrialized world, around 45% of breast cancer cases and 55% of breast cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Managing breast cancer in low income countries poses a different set of challenges including access to screening, stage at presentation, adequacy of management and availability of therapeutic interventions. In this paper, we will review the challenges faced in the management of breast cancer in low and middle income countries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjan van der Tol ◽  
Norbert Lameire ◽  
Rachael L. Morton ◽  
Wim Van Biesen ◽  
Raymond Vanholder

Background and objectivesThe prevalence of patients with ESKD who receive extracorporeal kidney replacement therapy is rising worldwide. We compared government reimbursement for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis worldwide, assessed the effect on the government health care budget, and discussed strategies to reduce the cost of kidney replacement therapy.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsCross-sectional global survey of nephrologists in 90 countries to assess reimbursement for dialysis, number of patients receiving hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and measures to prevent development or progression of CKD, conducted online July to December of 2016.ResultsOf the 90 survey respondents, governments from 81 countries (90%) provided reimbursement for maintenance dialysis. The prevalence of patients per million population being treated with long-term dialysis in low- and middle-income countries increased linearly with Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP per capita), but was substantially lower in these countries compared with high-income countries where we did not observe an higher prevalence with higher GDP per capita. The absolute expenditure for dialysis by national governments showed a positive association with GDP per capita, but the percent of total health care budget spent on dialysis showed a negative association. The percentage of patients on peritoneal dialysis was low, even in countries where peritoneal dialysis is better reimbursed than hemodialysis. The so-called peritoneal dialysis–first policy without financial incentive seems to be effective in increasing the utilization of peritoneal dialysis. Few countries actively provide CKD prevention.ConclusionsIn low- and middle-income countries, reimbursement of dialysis is insufficient to treat all patients with ESKD and has a disproportionately high effect on public health expenditure. Current reimbursement policies favor conventional in-center hemodialysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babar S. Hasan ◽  
Muneera A. Rasheed ◽  
Asra Wahid ◽  
Raman Krishna Kumar ◽  
Liesl Zuhlke

Along with inadequate access to high-quality care, competing health priorities, fragile health systems, and conflicts, there is an associated delay in evidence generation and research from LMICs. Lack of basic epidemiologic understanding of the disease burden in these regions poses a significant knowledge gap as solutions can only be developed and sustained if the scope of the problem is accurately defined. Congenital heart disease (CHD), for example, is the most common birth defect in children. The prevalence of CHD from 1990 to 2017 has progressively increased by 18.7% and more than 90% of children with CHD are born in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). If diagnosed and managed in a timely manner, as in high-income countries (HICs), most children lead a healthy life and achieve adulthood. However, children with CHD in LMICs have limited care available with subsequent impact on survival. The large disparity in global health research focus on this complex disease makes it a solid paradigm to shape the debate. Despite many challenges, an essential aspect of improving research in LMICs is the realization and ownership of the problem around paucity of local evidence by patients, health care providers, academic centers, and governments in these countries. We have created a theory of change model to address these challenges at a micro- (individual patient or physician or institutions delivering health care) and a macro- (government and health ministries) level, presenting suggested solutions for these complex problems. All stakeholders in the society, from government bodies, health ministries, and systems, to frontline healthcare workers and patients, need to be invested in addressing the local health problems and significantly increase data to define and improve the gaps in care in LMICs. Moreover, interventions can be designed for a more collaborative and effective HIC-LMIC and LMIC-LMIC partnership to increase resources, capacity building, and representation for long-term productivity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Launois ◽  
Dermot Maher ◽  
Edith Certain ◽  
Bella Ross ◽  
Michael J. Penkunas

Abstract Background Implementation research (IR) can play a critical role in the delivery of disease control interventions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The growing demand for IR training has led to the development of a range of training programs and university courses, the majority of which can not be accessed by learners in LMICs. This article reports on the evaluation of a massive open online course (MOOC) developed by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases hosted by the World Health Organization on the topic of IR with a focus on infectious diseases of poverty. This study followed Kirkpatrick’s Model to evaluate training programs with a specific focus on post-training changes in behavior. Methods MOOC participants were invited to take part in an anonymous online survey examining their IR knowledge and how they applied it in their professional practice approximately 1-1.5 years after completing the MOOC. The survey contained 43 open-ended, multiple choice and Likert-type questions. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the quantitative data and responses to the open-ended questions were thematically coded. Results A total of 748 MOOC participants responded to the survey. The demographic profile of the survey respondents aligned with that of the MOOC participants, with nearly 70% of respondents originating from Africa. Responses to the quantitative and open-ended survey questions revealed that respondents’ IR knowledge had improved to a large extent as a result of the MOOC, and that they used the knowledge and skills gained in their professional lives frequently. Respondents most often cited changes in their conceptual understanding of IR and understanding of the research process as substantial areas of change influenced by participating in the MOOC. Conclusions These findings indicate that the MOOC was successful in targeting learners from LMICs, in strengthening their IR knowledge and in contributing to their ability to apply it in their professional practice. The utility of MOOCs for providing IR training to learners in LMICs, where implementation challenges are encountered often, makes this platform an ideal standalone learning tool or one that could be combined with other training formats.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (S6) ◽  
pp. S55-S60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Bastero ◽  
Sandra L. Staveski ◽  
Bistra Zheleva ◽  
Emma Scanlan ◽  
Antonio G. Cabrera ◽  
...  

AbstractThe care of patients with CHD remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries. Their health systems have not been able to achieve consistently high performance in this field. The large volume of patients, manpower constraints, inconsistencies in the level and type of background training of the teams caring for this patient population, and the inadequate quality control systems are some of the barriers to achieving excellence of care. We describe three different international projects supporting the paediatric cardiac surgical and paediatric cardiac intensive care programmes in Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minerva Rivas Velarde ◽  
Caroline Jagoe ◽  
Jess Cuculick

UNSTRUCTURED Abstract Objectives To identify existing evidence regarding the use of Video Remote Interpretation (VRI) in healthcare settings. To assess if VRI technology can enable deaf-users to overcome interpretation barriers and improve communication outcomes between them and health care personnel. Design Scoping review. Data sources Seven medical research databases (Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar) from 2006 and bibliographies and citations of relevant papers. Searches included articles in English, Spanish and French. Eligibility criteria for study selection Original articles about the use of VRI for Deaf or Hard of Hearing sign language users (DHH) for, or within, healthcare. Results From the original 176 articles identified, 120 were eliminated after reading the article title and abstract, and 41 articles were excluded after they were fully read. Fifteen articles were selected for inclusion. Four were literature reviews; four were surveys, three qualitative studies; and one mixed-methods study that combined qualitative and quantitative data, one brief communication, one quality improvement report and one secondary analysis. This scoping review identified a knowledge gap regarding the quality of interpretation and training of sign language interpretation for healthcare. It also shows that this area is under researched and evidence is scant. All evidence was from high-income countries which is particularly problematic given that the majority of DHH persons live in low- and middle-income countries. Conclusions Furthering our understanding on the use of VRI technology is pertinent and relevant. Available literature shows that VRI may enable deaf-users to overcome interpretation barriers and can potentially improve communication outcomes between them and health personnel within healthcare services. For VRI to be acceptable, sign language users require a VRI system supported by devices with large screen and a reliable internet connection, as well as qualified interpreters trained on medical interpretation.


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