Wearable Technology to Capture Arm Use of People With Stroke in Home and Community Settings: Feasibility and Early Insights on Motor Performance.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to establish the short-term feasibility and usability of wrist-worn wearable sensors for capturing the arm and hand activity of people with stroke and to explore the association between factors related to the use of the paretic arm and hand.

Methods: Thirty people with chronic stroke were monitored with wrist-worn wearable sensors for 12 hours per day for a 7-day period. Participants also completed standardized assessments to capture stroke severity, arm motor impairments, self-perceived arm use, and self-efficacy.

Phone contacts and treatment discontinuation predict survival cancer patients in a subsidized drug access program.

Survival of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma is lower in in low- and middle-income countries, but factors leading to these outcomes are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to identify predictive factors associated with overall survival among cancer patients undergoing therapy in seven low- and middle-income countries. A multicenter cohort was conducted in Egypt, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Thailand and Ukraine.

Determinants of ventricular arrhythmias in sickle cell anemia: toward better prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Sudden death is 1 of the leading causes of death in adults with sickle cell anemia (SCA) but its etiology remains mostly unknown. Ventricular arrhythmia (VA) carries an increased risk of sudden death; however, its prevalence and determinants in SCA are poorly studied. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and predictors of VA in patients with SCA.

Wearable technology to capture arm use of stroke survivors in home and community settings: feasibility and early insights on motor performance.

Objective: To establish short-term feasibility and usability of wrist-worn wearable sensors to capture arm/hand activity of stroke survivors and to explore factors related to use of the paretic arm/hand.

Methods: 30 chronic stroke survivors were monitored with wrist-worn wearable sensors during 12h/day for a 7-day period. Participants also completed standardized assessments to capture stroke severity, arm motor impairments, self-perceived arm use and self-efficacy.

Factors impacting self-management ability in patients with chronic diseases in the United Arab Emirates, 2019.

Poor adherence to chronic disease therapy is a critical global problem that negatively effects the long-term therapy for chronic diseases, resulting in negative population health and economic effects. The WHO multidimensional model proposed a systems-based approach for improving adherence to chronic disease therapy. In the current study, the WHO five-dimension framework was used to evaluate factors among, chronic-disease patients in the United Arab Emirates.

Positive association of angiotensin II receptor blockers, not angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, with an increased vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients hospitalized for suspected COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is the receptor that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses for entry into lung cells. Because ACE-2 may be modulated by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), there is concern that patients treated with ACEIs and ARBs are at higher risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Aim: This study sought to analyze the association of COVID-19 pneumonia with previous treatment with ACEIs and ARBs.

A cohort study of medication adherence among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Egypt.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the most common chronic respiratory disease, is expected to become the third leading cause of death worldwide in 2020. A prospective cohort study conducted in 2017 and 2018 aimed to identify factors associated with inhaler treatment adherence in patients with COPD in Cairo (Egypt). Physicians collected data regarding patient deaths, treatment-related adverse events, and patients' social support (no support, patient, support by spouse, children, and siblings) from their patients with COPD.

Ability to pay for medication: a clustering analysis of 1404 patients with the Patient Financial Eligibility Tool.

The study was conducted to understand how key determinants of the Patient Financial Eligibility Tool (PFET), a previously validated tool for assessing patients' ability to contribute to their medication costs, vary across countries. A clustering analysis was conducted on economic data from 1404 patients from Thailand (n = 947), the UAE (n = 347) and Mexico (n = 110). The analysis identified seven patient clusters, including globally wealthy or poor patients (14%/48%) and those with only selectively increased PFET economic indicators (38%), and revealed country-specific differences in the correlation between PFET metrics and patients' overall economic status.

Willingness to pay for medical treatments in chronic diseases: a multicountry survey of patients and physicians.

Aim: The objective was to investigate factors influencing patients' willingness to pay (WTP) and physician's views on the cost of therapy for two contrasted chronic diseases, chronic heart failure and psoriasis.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in ten developing countries, using a stated WTP contingent valuation method. Multivariate analyses were performed by linear regression.

Treatment-seeking patterns for malaria in pharmacies in five sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended as the first-line anti-malarial treatment strategy in sub-Saharan African countries. WHO policy recommends parasitological confirmation by microscopy or rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in all cases of suspected malaria prior to treatment. Gaps remain in understanding the factors that influence patient treatment-seeking behaviour and anti-malarial drug purchase decisions in the private sector.

Societal impact of dengue outbreaks: Stakeholder perceptions and related implications. A qualitative study in Brazil, 2015.

Background: The growing burden of dengue in many countries worldwide and the difficulty of preventing outbreaks have increased the urgency to identify alternative public health management strategies and effective approaches to control and prevent dengue outbreaks. The objectives of this study were to understand the impact of dengue outbreak on different stakeholders in Brazil, to explore their perceptions of approaches used by governmental authorities to control and prevent dengue outbreaks and to define the challenges and implications of preventing future outbreaks.

Methods: In 2015, a qualitative study was conducted in two urban states in Brazil: São Paulo, which was experiencing an outbreak in 2015, and Rio de Janeiro, which experienced outbreaks in 2011 and 2012.

Experiences and lessons learned from 29 HPV vaccination programs implemented in 19 low and middle-income countries, 2009-2014.

Background: Cervical cancer is the greatest cause of age-weighted years of life lost in the developing world. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with a high proportion of cervical cancers, and HPV vaccination may help to reduce the incidence of cancer. The aim of the study was to identify barriers, obstacles, and strategies and to analyze key concerns and lessons learned with respect to the implementation of HPV vaccination program in low- and middle-income countries.

Performance of HIV Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa: Longitudinal Assessment of 64 Nevirapine-Based Programs Implemented in 25 Countries, 2000-2011.

Background: To evaluate the performance and to identify predictive factors of performance in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs (PMTCT) in sub-Saharan African countries.

Methods: From 2000 to 2011, PMTCT programs included in the Viramune Donation Programme (VDP) were prospectively followed. Each institution included in the VDP provided data on program implementation, type of management institution, number of PMTCT sites, key programs outputs (HIV counseling and testing, NVP regimens received by mothers and newborns).

Performance of 21 HPV vaccination programs implemented in low and middle-income countries, 2009-2013.

Background: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide, with high incidence in lowest income countries. Vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) may help to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze HPV vaccination programs performance implemented in low and middle-income countries.

Increasing access to care for chronic myeloid leukemia patients: assessment of a scaling-up program.

Background: The Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) is designed to provide access to the cancer therapy Imatinib (Glivec⊠), which is indicated for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Objectives: To identify factors those influence the quality of care and structural improvements. Design .

Improving access to care in low and middle-income countries: institutional factors related to enrollment and patient outcome in a cancer drug access program.

Background: Limited access to drugs is a crucial barrier to reducing the growing impact of cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Approaches based on drug donations or adaptive pricing strategies yield promising but varying results across countries or programs, The Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) is a program designed to provide imatinib free of charge to patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The objective of this work was to identify institutional factors associated with enrollment and patient survival in GIPAP.

Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in resource-limited settings: assessment of 99 Viramune Donation Programmes in 34 countries, 2000-2011.

Background: Transmission of HIV from mother-to-child during pregnancy, labor, or breastfeeding is the primary cause of pediatric HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. A regimen of single-dose nevirapine administered to both HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants has been shown to lower the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. In an effort to facilitate scale-up of PMTCT programs in low-income countries, Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of Viramune (branded nevirapine), initiated the Viramune Donation Programme (VDP) in 2000.

Artemisinin-based combination therapy availability and use in the private sector of five AMFm phase 1 countries.

Background: In 2009, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria established the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) in order to increase access to quality-assured artemisinin combination therapy (QAACT). AMFm Phase 1, which includes nine pilot programmes in eight countries, was launched in 2009. The objective of this study was to assess anti-malarial stock and purchase patterns at private outlets in five AMFm Phase 1 countries in regard to three of the core AMFm goals: increase the affordability of QAACT, increase the availability of QAACT, and crowd out artemisinin monotherapies and other substandard therapies.

Scaling up prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs in sub-Saharan African countries: a multilevel assessment of site-, program- and country-level determinants of performance.

Background: Uptake of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programs remains challenging in sub-Saharan Africa because of multiple barriers operating at the individual or health facility levels. Less is known regarding the influence of program-level and contextual determinants. In this study, we explored the multilevel factors associated with coverage in single-dose nevirapine PMTCT programs.

Development and validation of a multilateral index to determine economic status in developing countries: the Patient Financial Eligibility Tool (PFET).

The objective was to develop and validate a multilateral index to determine patient ability to pay for medication in low- and middle-income countries. Primary data were collected in 2009 from 117 cancer patients in China, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. The initial tool included income, expenditures, and assets-based items using ad hoc determined brackets.

Assessment of eight HPV vaccination programs implemented in lowest income countries.

Background: Cervix cancer, preventable, continues to be the third most common cancer in women worldwide, especially in lowest income countries. Prophylactic HPV vaccination should help to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer. The purpose of the study was to describe the results of and key concerns in eight HPV vaccination programs conducted in seven lowest income countries through the Gardasil Access Program (GAP).

Women's cancers in developing countries: from research to an integrated health systems approach.

The article focuses on two women's cancers, breast and cervical cancer, that are much more deadly in developing countries than in developed countries. Early detection can make a significant difference for the treatment outcome of these two cancers and there are now cost-effective tools for prevention and screening. The authors propose a new public health approach to these two cancers in developing countries where resources for effective cancer control are very limited and offer a framework for putting women's cancers in developing countries on the global public health agenda.

HIV prevention costs and program scale: data from the PANCEA project in five low and middle-income countries.

Background: Economic theory and limited empirical data suggest that costs per unit of HIV prevention program output (unit costs) will initially decrease as small programs expand. Unit costs may then reach a nadir and start to increase if expansion continues beyond the economically optimal size. Information on the relationship between scale and unit costs is critical to project the cost of global HIV prevention efforts and to allocate prevention resources efficiently.

The costs and benefits of private sector provision of treatment to HIV-infected employees in Kampala, Uganda.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the financial incentives that companies have to treat HIV-infected employees, in a health care services company in Kampala, Uganda.

Design: Cost-benefit analysis from the company's perspective of three interventions to treat HIV-infected employees.

Methods: The costs and benefits of each intervention were compared with no intervention and with each other: cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (CTX) starting at WHO stage 2; highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) plus CTX starting at WHO stage 2; and a 'hybrid' strategy that begins with CTX at WHO stage 2 and later includes HAART.

Assessing the efficiency of HIV prevention around the world: methods of the PANCEA project.

Objective: To develop data collection methods suitable to obtain data to assess the costs, cost-efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of eight types of HIV prevention programs in five countries.

Data Sources/study Setting: Primary data collection from prevention programs for 2002-2003 and prior years, in Uganda, South Africa, India, Mexico, and Russia.

Study Design: This study consisted of a retrospective review of HIV prevention programs covering one to several years of data.