Publications by authors named "Ayan Mao"
Article Synopsis
- * It employs a mixed-methods approach, combining literature reviews, quantitative public health data, and qualitative assessments of response strategies, revealing a significant rise in respiratory illnesses in late 2023.
- * The research identifies challenges like resource limitations and public health fatigue, while emphasizing the need for better infrastructure and policies, recommending enhanced international collaboration and preparedness for future health crises.
Article Synopsis
- * Data from the 2018 China National Health Services Survey was analyzed, comparing healthcare utilization between those with and without PHI across three SHI schemes: UEBMI, URBMI, and NRCMS.
- * Results show that while individuals with PHI generally had lower outpatient visit rates, UEBMI participants exhibited a higher likelihood of both outpatient and inpatient admissions, suggesting varying impacts of PHI depending on the SHI scheme.
Improvement of Cancer Prevention and Control: Reflection on the Role of Emerging Information Technologies.
J Med Internet Res
February 2024
Article Synopsis
- Cancer is a significant public health issue in China and globally, with increasing incidence rates despite improvements in prevention and treatment, leading to severe disease and economic impacts.
- Early cancer screening and diagnosis are crucial for alleviating these burdens, but challenges have arisen in the implementation and management of related projects in China.
- The use of emerging information technologies, such as AI and data mining, is being explored to enhance cancer prevention and control processes, which could improve project efficiency and management in the healthcare system.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to calculate case fatality rates (CFR) of COVID-19 across various continents during different variants of concern (VOC), using data from authoritative sources between January 2020 and March 2023.
- Researchers found that CFRs varied significantly by variant, with Alpha at 2.62%, Beta at 4.19%, Gamma at 3.60%, Delta at 2.01%, and Omicron at 0.70%, and also discovered differences in CFRs among continents, particularly noting that Europe and Oceania had lower rates.
- The study concluded that while CFRs differ by variant and region, they are influenced by factors like human development index (HDI), age
Risk Communication Principles for COVID-19 Vaccination: Application in China.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- Researchers conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate dyslipidemia—a condition related to abnormal lipid levels—among adults in Mainland China, due to a lack of comprehensive representative studies.
- The analysis included 41 studies with over 1.3 million participants, finding a dyslipidemia prevalence of 42.1% and highlighting low HDL-C as the most common type.
- Results showed that awareness, treatment, and control rates were notably low, with disparities observed based on gender and urban versus rural populations.
Article Synopsis
- * A comparative analysis of COVID-19 management in Beijing and Shanghai reveals that although Shanghai initially performed well, the city faced challenges with the Omicron variant, leading to effective measures in Beijing based on Shanghai's experiences.
- * Limitations include varying urgent policies across locations, reliance on preliminary data for strategy development, and the need for ongoing testing of anti-epidemic policies as new evidence emerges.
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to analyze the roles and stress levels of professional staff in the Beijing Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) system during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform workforce management for disease control efforts.
- A survey of 1,086 staff was conducted using an electronic questionnaire focusing on their general information and job satisfaction, with the data analyzed using statistical methods to understand work stress related to increased duties and cross-discipline tasks.
- Results showed that out of the surveyed staff, the majority engaged in COVID-19 work were from Public Health and Preventive Medicine, facing an average of 2.17 duties per person, highlighting the significant workload disparity between disciplines.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic has created major public health challenges, highlighting the importance of vaccination as a crucial tool for prevention and control of the virus.
- Trust plays a significant role in vaccine hesitancy, making it difficult for people to accept COVID-19 vaccines.
- The paper aims to explore the issues surrounding vaccine trust and suggest ways to improve public acceptance and implementation of vaccination policies.
Article Synopsis
- The analysis focuses on the division of labor among various departments of the Beijing Municipal Government during the planning and response to the Covid-19 epidemic, using policy documents for reference.
- A total of 444 documents were reviewed, highlighting different stages of the pandemic while emphasizing the initial stage with the highest volume of cases and policy updates.
- Key policy measures were categorized into seven fields, including economic development, transportation, and medical services, with objectives to enhance epidemic control and maintain social stability while noting variations in focus throughout different phases of the pandemic.
Article Synopsis
- - Lung cancer is the most common cancer and a major cause of cancer deaths in China, prompting a study to assess the direct medical costs associated with its care from 2002 to 2011.
- - The study analyzed data from 15,437 patients across 13 provinces, revealing that the average medical expenditure per lung cancer case in 2011 was 39,015 CNY (about US$6,041), with a 7.55% annual increase over the period.
- - Drug costs constituted the largest share of medical expenses at 54.27%, with treatment and surgical costs following behind; costs varied significantly depending on regional factors and hospital types.
Article Synopsis
- * The average age of diagnosis was 59.3 years, with a notable rise in stage IV diagnoses from 13.5% to 20.5% over the study period; also, there was a shift toward more advanced diagnostic technologies such as CT and MRI, while x-ray usage decreased.
- * Surgical treatments declined, with more patients receiving chemotherapy; average medical costs per patient rose significantly from about 47,259 to 86,709 Chinese
Article Synopsis
- * It found that 64.44% of diagnoses and 17.78% of treatment plans were confirmed by the second opinion, with 94.07% of doctors seeking this service for better treatment strategies.
- * The program resulted in improved therapeutic regimens for 126 cases, highlighting significant differences in treatment methods; however, the diagnostic and therapeutic consistency rates were lower compared to other international studies due to missing original treatment plans.
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the quality of life among cancer patients in urban China, focusing on lung, breast, colorectal, oesophageal, liver, and stomach cancers to identify health impacts and associated factors.
- Using a random cluster sampling strategy in top hospitals, researchers collected data via a quality of life survey, utilizing the EuroQoL questionnaire and multivariable logistic regression for analysis.
- Results showed that patients frequently experienced pain and anxiety, with specific health utility values for each cancer type, emphasizing the need for pain relief and psychological support in patient care.
Article Synopsis
- This study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of colorectal precancer and cancer patients in China, using data collected from a cross-sectional survey conducted from 2012 to 2014 across 12 provinces.* -
- A total of 376 precancer and 2,470 CRC patients participated, with utility scores indicating a significant decline in HRQoL compared to the general population, particularly noting pain and discomfort as major issues.* -
- Multivariate analysis identified various factors influencing utility scores including treatment type, education, income, and geographic location, suggesting the need for tailored interventions and further evaluations in healthcare.*
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess health state utility scores for patients with esophageal cancer (EC) and precancerous lesions in China, as well as explore factors impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
- Conducted between 2013 and 2014, the research involved 2,090 EC patients and 156 precancer patients using the EQ-5D-3L instrument, revealing high self-reported issues with pain/discomfort among these patients.
- Results indicated that EC patients had lower utility scores compared to precancer patients, with multiple factors such as region, income, and treatment type influencing these scores, highlighting the need for further cost-utility analysis in Chinese populations.
Collaboration and Cooperation of Public Health Service Management in China.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep
April 2021
Article Synopsis
- Collaboration and cooperation between government departments and other entities in public health management are currently weak in China, which affects overall public health service delivery.
- The study identifies key problems such as ineffective collaboration, inadequate public information platforms, and challenges in implementing health initiatives.
- The article provides strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing collaboration to improve public health management and foster sustainable development in China.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to analyze the cost-effectiveness of a colorectal cancer screening program in a general population over a specific period, comparing screened individuals to those who did not undergo screening.
- The cost-utility analysis revealed that the screening program had an average cost of 84,092 CNY per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), which was significantly lower than 122,530 CNY per QALY for the general population.
- The findings suggest that implementing the colorectal cancer screening program could enhance the quality of life and lead to cost savings in healthcare.
Article Synopsis
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant health and economic challenge in China, with a survey aimed at understanding the medical costs associated with its diagnosis and treatment from 2002 to 2011.
- The study included 14,536 CRC patients and found an average medical expense of 37,902 CNY per patient, which increased dramatically over the years, rising by 9.2% annually.
- Results showed that earlier stage patients had lower costs, whereas drug expenses made up the largest portion of the total medical expenditures, highlighting the need for better economic planning in CRC care.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aims to understand how participation in breast cancer screening programs affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL), with data gathered from a survey across 12 provinces in China.
- - Results showed that while utility scores (a measure of HRQoL) for those in the screening group were lower than those of the general population (0.937 vs. 0.953), issues like pain, discomfort, and anxiety/depression were common in both groups.
- - The findings highlight the need for further research, as utility scores decreased temporarily during screening but indicated potential improvements afterward, suggesting that the difference in scores might not be clinically significant.
Studying Communication Problems for Emergency Management of SARS and H7N9 in China.
J Glob Infect Dis
January 2018
Article Synopsis
- SARS and H7N9 had significant influences on China's health, economy, and global security, with the response to H7N9 being notably improved over the SARS response.
- The study examines communication strategies during the emergency management of both outbreaks to help enhance future responses to infectious disease outbreaks.
- While SARS faced criticism for slow and poor communication, the handling of H7N9 demonstrated progress in information disclosure and overall management effectiveness.
The Impacts on Health, Society, and Economy of SARS and H7N9 Outbreaks in China: A Case Comparison Study.
J Environ Public Health
January 2019
Article Synopsis
- Epidemics like SARS and H7N9 have significantly harmed public health and the economy in China, highlighting the need for better infectious disease management.
- The article analyzes the repercussions of these outbreaks through feedback from various sources to shed light on their effects on China's society and economy.
- While both viruses posed global threats, the impact of H7N9 was less severe than SARS due to a more effective response to the latter outbreak.
Article Synopsis
- Stomach cancer is a significant health issue in China, ranking as the third most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer deaths, prompting a study on the medical expenses related to treatment.
- A study involving 14,692 patients revealed that medical expenses for the first course of treatment increased from an average of around 20,000 CNY in 2002 to about 43,249 CNY (6851 USD) in 2011, marking an annual increase of 7.4%.
- The rising costs are primarily attributed to longer hospital stays and more treatment episodes, with drug expenses comprising over half of the total medical costs.
Article Synopsis
- - This study focused on assessing the health-related quality of life and utility scores for patients with breast cancer and precancerous lesions in China, an area with limited existing data.
- - Researchers conducted a survey in 12 provinces over two years (2013-2014) using the EuroQol-5-Dimension instrument, which revealed that breast cancer patients reported an average utility score of 0.887, while precancer patients had a score of 0.781, with pain and discomfort being the most significant issues.
- - The findings indicate that utility scores decrease as the severity of breast cancer increases, highlighting the importance of these scores for future cost-utility analyses in the region.
Article Synopsis
- - This study investigates liver cancer medical costs in urban China from 2002 to 2011, revealing a significant rise in average treatment expenses from ¥21,950 to ¥40,386 over the decade.
- - An analysis of 12,342 patients shows that pharmaceutical expenses constitute the largest portion of costs, rising from 48.01% to 52.96%, while nursing fees remain minimal at about 1%.
- - The findings indicate that liver cancer imposes a heavy economic burden on families, with early diagnosis and treatment potentially reducing costs; expenditures are notably higher in the eastern region compared to the west and central areas.