Application of frailty screening instruments for older people in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.

Background: Frailty and frailty screening of older people is increasingly becoming a global public health concern. The health domains and elements that constitute frailty may differ across different settings. The choice of frailty screening instruments can therefore affect frailty diagnosis and potentially delay interventions.

Specialist care visits outside the hospital by South Australian older adults.

Background: Limited access to specialist medical services is a major barrier to healthcare in rural areas. We compared rural-urban specialist doctor consultations outside hospital by older adults (≥ 60 years) across South Australia.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were available from the South Australia's Department of Health.

Equity and Performance Improvement: A Novel Toolkit That Makes Using an Equity Lens the Default.

Performance improvement methodologies do not currently include any structures that encourage analysis of how bias, inequity, or social determinants of health (SDOH) contribute to outcomes. The Montefiore Center for Performance Improvement developed a novel quality improvement (QI) toolkit that ingrains issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and SDOH into the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's tools. The toolkit prompts QI teams to evaluate DEI and SDOH at each step of the journey, including an updated charter and stratified baseline tool, a new fishbone diagram for the discovery phase with a tail to include DEI and SDOH, and additions in the Study and Act sessions of the Plan-Do-Study-Act worksheet to address these issues.

A systematic review of the measurement properties of aspects of psychological capacity in older adults.

Objective: to examine the measurement properties of instruments that have been used to measure aspects of psychological capacity in adults aged 60 years and over.

Methods: the databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMCARE and Scopus from 2010 were searched using search terms related to psychological capacity, older persons and measurement properties. Both data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were conducted using the COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) criteria using Covidence software.

Family Support, Perceived Physical Activeness and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases as Determinants of Formal Healthcare Utilization Among Older Adults with Low Income and Health Insurance Subscription in Ghana.

Evidence suggests that enrollment in a health insurance scheme is associated with higher levels of formal healthcare utilization among older adults, especially those with low income in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Ghana. This study examines the prevalence of formal healthcare utilization and associated factors among older adults with low income and health insurance subscription enrolled in a social intervention program (known as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty [LEAP] program) in Ghana. Cross-sectional data were obtained from an Aging, Health, Lifestyle and Health Services Survey conducted in 2018 among 200 older adults aged 65 years and above enrolled in the LEAP program.

System, institutional, and client-level factors associated with formal healthcare utilisation among older adults with low income under a social protection scheme in Ghana.

Background: In sub-Saharan African context, effect of system, institutional and client-level factors on formal healthcare utilisation among older adults with low income, especially those under a social protection scheme (called Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty [LEAP] programme) is least explored in the literature. However, an adequate understanding of how these factors contribute to formal healthcare utilisation among older adults who are classified as poor (in terms of low income) is important to inform health policy decisions. The aim of this study, therefore, was to examine the contributions of system, institutional and client-level factors in formal healthcare utilisation among older adults with low income under the LEAP programme in Ghana.

The Relationship between Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases of Fish Farm Household Members and Production Efficiency: The Case of Ghana.

Prior studies explored the production and technical efficiency of fish farms and farmers from the perspectives of factors such as credit access and cooperative membership. We focused on the chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) of household members and their quantitative impacts on fish farm production efficiency, based on data of earthen pond fish farms from two regions (Bono East and Ashanti) in Ghana. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the IV Tobit technique were employed for the study's analysis.

Understanding Unmet Care Needs of Rural Older Adults with Chronic Health Conditions: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Rural populations experience poorer access to the necessary health services for chronic health conditions. Although studies of rural healthcare access continue to expand, most are based on quantitative data, yet normative views and lived experiences of rural adults might offer a better understanding of healthcare access and their specific unmet needs. This qualitative study sought the views of both rural-centric older people and healthcare professionals to understand health needs, barriers, and enablers of accessing health services, with a focus on chronic health condition(s).

An investigation on the role of electric vehicles in alleviating environmental pollution: evidence from five leading economies.

The relationship between battery electric vehicles (BEV) and carbon dioxide emission (CO) has significant environmental outcomes. Notwithstanding, battery electric vehicles have not been extensively explored through econometric approach. For countries to meet their net zero targets, it is crucial to consider the role of battery electric vehicles, renewable energy consumption, and CO.

The effects of simmelian ties on innovation of low-carbon technology: a study of top managers' environmental awareness and stakeholder pressure in China.

Low-carbon technology innovation (LTI) engenders environmental protection and socioeconomic development. Hence, low-carbon innovation of enterprises becomes a crucial policy arena for national development and climate mitigation strategy. LTI is now associated with enhanced reputation and competitive edge of enterprises.

Psychological distress, multimorbidity and health services among older adults in rural South Australia.

Objective: Psychological distress may relate to higher health services use. However, data on psychological distress and health services use among rural older adults are limited. This study investigates psychological distress in older adults (aged ≥60) and evaluates the relationship between psychological distress, multimorbidity and health services utilization.

The Prevalence of Chronic Physical and Mental Health Conditions in Older Adults Across South Australia and Their Independent Effects on General Practitioner Visits.

Rural older adults (≥60), compared to their urban counterparts, are identified as higher users of general practitioner (GP) services. However, whether this pattern of health seeking is influenced more so by physical or mental conditions is unclear. We explore the independent effect of chronic physical and mental health conditions on GP use in Australia.

Socioeconomic factors associated with limb salvage versus amputation for adult extremity bone sarcomas in patients with insurance coverage.

Background: Limb salvage (LS) has become the preferred treatment for adult patients with bone sarcoma of the extremities. The decision to perform LS versus an amputation is often dictated by tumor characteristics, however there may be socioeconomic factors associated with LS. Previously this has been linked to insurance status, however currently there is a paucity of data examining socioeconomic factors in patients with medical insurance at the time of sarcoma diagnosis.

A socio-geographic perspective of health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on poor households in ghana.

COVID-19 outbreak has had multidimensional effects on human lives. The impacts are expected to be more severe on poor households, especially in resource-constraint economies such as Ghana. The Country has a higher poverty rate [24.

Changes in Frequency of Surveillance Imaging of Survivors of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma After the American Society of Hematology Choosing Wisely Recommendations.

In 2013, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) published recommendations with Choosing Wisely to limit surveillance imaging in aggressive lymphoma. We studied surveillance imaging practice patterns for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) before and after the ASH Choosing Wisely campaign. We used OptumLabs Data Warehouse, a national insurance claims database, to retrospectively study imaging frequency in survivors of DLBCL from 2008 to 2016.

What are the predictors of emergency department utilization and readmission following extremity bone sarcoma resection?

Introduction: Treatment for bone sarcomas are large undertakings. Emergency department (ED) visits and unplanned hospital readmissions are a potential target for cost containment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for ED visits and unplanned readmissions following extremity bone sarcoma surgery.

Trends in Extended-Duration Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Following Radical Cystectomy.

Objective: To evaluate temporal trends in prescriptions for extended-duration pharmacologic prophylaxis (EDPP) intended to prevent venous thromboembolism following radical cystectomy (RC).

Materials And Methods: We used OptumLabs Data Warehouse, a national administrative claims database, to identify patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer from 2012 to 2017. Rates of outpatient prescriptions for EDPP following RC were assessed, and rate over time was evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend.

Use of Imaging During Staging and Surveillance of Localized Colon Cancer in a Large Insured Population.

Background: Adherence to surveillance guidelines in resected colon cancer has significant implications for patient morbidity, cost of care, and healthcare utilization. This study measured the underuse and overuse of imaging for staging and surveillance in stage I-II colon cancer.

Methods: The OptumLabs database was queried for administrative claims data on adult patients with stage I-II colon cancer who underwent surgery alone in 2008 through 2016.

Survival outcomes for patients with surgically induced end-stage renal disease.

Introduction: While medically induced end-stage renal disease (m-ESRD) has been well-studied, outcomes in patients with surgically induced ESRD (s-ESRD) are unknown. We sought to quantitatively compare the non-oncological outcomes for s-ESRD and m-ESRD in a large, population-based cohort.

Methods: Medicare patients >65 years old initiating hemodialysis were identified using the U.

Factors Associated with Emergency Department Utilization and Admission in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: We assessed emergency department (ED) utilization in patients with colorectal cancer to identify factors associated with ED visits and subsequent admission, as well as identify a high-risk subset of patients that could be targeted to reduce ED visits.

Methods: Data from Optum Labs Data Warehouse, a national administrative claims database, was retrospectively analyzed to identify patients with colorectal cancer from 2008 to 2014. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ED visits and ED "super-users" (3+ visits).

The Four Corners Sign: A Specific Imaging Feature in Differentiating Systemic Sclerosis-related Interstitial Lung Disease From Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Purpose: Differentiating between systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is important because of the differences in workup, prognosis, and treatment. However, there is much overlap in the appearance of these 2 entities on high-resolution computed tomography. We propose that inflammation and/or fibrosis focally or disproportionately involving the bilateral anterolateral upper lobes and posterosuperior lower lobes ["Four Corners" Sign (FCS)] is specific for SSc-ILD.

Association of Psoriasis With Comorbidity Development in Children With Psoriasis.

Importance: Children with psoriasis are at increased risk for comorbidities. Many children with psoriasis are also overweight or obese; it is unknown whether the increased risk of comorbidities in these children is independent of obesity.

Objective: To determine the risk of elevated lipid levels (hyperlipidemia/hypertriglyceridemia), hypertension, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, nonalcoholic liver disease, and elevated liver enzyme levels in children with and without psoriasis, after accounting for obesity.