Evaluating the Accuracy and Impact of the ESR-iGuide Decision Support Tool in Optimizing CT Imaging Referral Appropriateness.

Radiology referral quality impacts patient care, yet factors influencing quality are poorly understood. This study assessed the quality of computed tomography (CT) referrals, identified associated characteristics, and evaluated the ESR-iGuide clinical decision support tool's ability to optimize referrals. A retrospective review analyzed 300 consecutive CT referrals from an acute care hospital.

Timely care for age-related macular degeneration: a qualitative study among retina specialists in Israel.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects quality of life and independence, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing due to ageing of the population. Access to effective timely treatment can improve vision and reduce incidence of blindness. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of ophthalmologists in the Israeli public healthcare system regarding timely treatment of AMD patients.

Exploring pre-MRI imaging tests: patient survey reveals potential implications for healthcare efficiency in Israel.

Background: Medical imaging tests are vital in healthcare but can be costly, impacting national health expenditures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a crucial diagnostic tool for assessing medical conditions. However, the rising demand for MRI scans has frequently strained available resources.

Priority setting for health technology adoption at the national level: Lessons learned over 25 years' experience.

Background: Limited health budgets and continual advancement of health technologies require mechanisms for prioritization. Israel, with a publicly funded health service basket, has implemented and optimized such a health technology assessment process since 1999.We describe the process of evaluating technologies according to the Israeli model, analyze its outputs and benefits over two decades of implementation, and compare its key features with international experience.

Inequalities in end-stage renal disease: underprivileged and ethnic minority members are at higher risk.

Background: Incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is higher in Israel than the European average. Socio-economic differences in ESRD have been reported globally, but many countries lack a national register. Using national data, we assessed which socio-demographic factors are associated with 5-year incidence of ESRD in Israel, where there is universal access to renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Socioeconomic and ethnic disparities along five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons we have not yet learnt.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic, now in its third year, has served as a magnifying glass, exposing the inequitable impact of the outbreak. The study aims to analyze the relationships between the socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics of the population and COVID-19 testing, infection, and vaccination throughout the first five pandemic waves.

Design: A secondary analysis of an existing national database was conducted in Israel from March 2020 to May 2022.

Social shaming and bullying of mental health staff by patients: A survey in a mental health centre.

Unlabelled: WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Public shaming, especially by consumers of healthcare, is getting worse and has become a specific case of bullying Despite extensive research on physical and verbal violence directed towards mental health workers, the issue of social shaming and bullying by patients or relatives has not been sufficiently researched WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE: Mental healthcare workers are exposed to the threat of social shaming and bullying on a regular almost weekly basis Abusive behaviours by patients are associated with professional burnout, decreases in professional functioning and even a tendency to leave the workplace among mental health workers WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The stability and strength of the therapeutic alliance between healthcare giver and psychiatric patient are critical to the success of the treatment There is a need to develop a dedicated organizational policy for the prevention, early detection, intervention and support for teams exposed to social shaming and bullying An emphatic response, and effective intervention in a case of social shaming may improve professional functioning and reduce burnout and intention to leave.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Social shaming can impair caregivers' performance. The prevalence of shaming experienced by mental health workers and the relationships to their function or burnout is unknown.

Teachers' characteristics predict students' guidance for healthy lifestyle: a cross-sectional study in Arab-speaking schools.

Introduction: Schools are valuable settings for implementing healthy lifestyle interventions. Teachers' health behaviors affect their health and well-being and might affect their position as role models for students. This study aimed a) to assess health behaviors, health perceptions, burnout, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment among Arab school teachers in Israel; b) to examine the relationship between these variables; and c) to explain the variance of healthy lifestyle promotion among students.

COVID-19 Vaccination, Morbidity, and Mortality During a 12-Month Period in Israel: Can We Maintain a "Herd Immunity" State?

Despite widespread vaccination, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause global disruption. Authors describe the pace of COVID-19 vaccination in Israel and examine differences in morbidity and mortality rates over time between vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. Retrospective data were obtained between December 2020 and December 2021 on daily vaccine uptake by age group (20-39, 40-59, 60+ years): rate of hospitalized severely ill cases, vaccination status and age group, and death rate per 100,000 by date and vaccination status.

Covid-19 in children aged 5-11: Examining the issues surrounding vaccination and public health policy.

Background: Children under 12 are now the largest unvaccinated group. Following FDA approval, vaccination of 5-11 year olds is now being encouraged in some countries. We present data on child COVID-related morbidity in Israel and discuss the complexities surrounding vaccinating children aged 5-11.

Sociodemographic disparities in COVID-19 burden: changing patterns over four pandemic waves in Israel.

Background: Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic hit weakest populations hardest, with socioeconomic (SE), racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 burden. The study aimed to analyse patterns of SE and ethnic disparities in morbidity, hospitalisation, and vaccination throughout four pandemic waves.

Methods: A retrospective-archive study was conducted in Israel from 11 March 2020 to 1 December 2021, with data on confirmed cases, hospitalisations, mortality and vaccinations (three doses), obtained from the Israeli Ministry of Health's open COVID-19 database, covering 98.

Factors Affecting the Patient Journey in Scheduling a Specialist Appointment in a Public Healthcare System.

A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the journey experienced by patients from identifying a need to see a community specialist in Israel's public healthcare system, through scheduling an appointment and attending. A telephone survey was conducted with a nationally representative group of 3751 adults, in 2019 to 2020. Fifty-seven percent needed to see a specialist in the last 6 months; among those, 82%, visited a specialist.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-COVID respiratory ED visits in Israel.

Background: The COVID 19 pandemic has had a crucial effect on the patterns of disease and treatment in the healthcare system. This study examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on respiratory ED visits and admissions broken down by age group and respiratory diagnostic category.

Methods: Data on non-COVID related ED visits and hospitalizations from the ED were obtained in a retrospective analysis for 29 acute care hospitals, covering 98% of ED beds in Israel, and analyzed by 5 age groups: under one-year-old, 1-17, 18-44, 45-74 and 75 and over.

Clinical decision support system recommendations: how often do radiologists and clinicians accept them?

Objective: To assess the acceptance and reliability of clinical decision support system (CDSS) imaging referral scores (ESR iGuide).

Methods: A pilot study was conducted in a tertiary hospital. Four different experts were invited to rate 40 simulated clinical cases on a 5-level scale, for the level of agreement with the ESR iGuide's recommended procedures.

Effect of ethnicity, country of origin and workplace on health behaviors and health perception among nurses: Cross-sectional study.

Purpose: The study aimed to (1) examine health behaviors and perceived health among nurses; (2) analyze the effect of nurses' personal and work characteristics on these variables; and (3) explore the relationship between health behaviors and nurses' health perception.

Design And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in health care organizations (HCOs) across Israel. An email with the online questionnaire was sent to nurses working in 19 HCOs across Israel during September-December 2018.

Changes in infectivity, severity and vaccine effectiveness against delta COVID-19 variant ten months into the vaccination program: The Israeli case.

We present epidemiological data to examine trends in COVID-19 incidence, morbidity and mortality in Israel as well as changes in vaccine effectiveness, and discuss the impact of the delta variant and the third, "booster", vaccine. A retrospective-archive study was conducted from February 27th 2020 to October 16th, 2021. Data were obtained from the Israeli Ministry of Health's open COVID 19 database, including PCR-confirmed cases, number hospitalized - including severe cases, death rate, all by age and vaccination status, case fatality rate and changing effectiveness of the vaccine.

Socioeconomic gradient in COVID-19 vaccination: evidence from Israel.

Background: Low socioeconomic status (SES) groups have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to examine COVID-19 vaccination rate by neighborhood SES and ethnicity in Israel, a country which has achieved high vaccination rates.

Methods: Data on vaccinations were obtained from the Israeli Ministry of Health's open COVID-19 database, for December 20, 2020 to August 31, 2021.

Timely childhood vaccination in Israel: a national retrospective study of ethnic and socioeconomic disparities.

A large proportion of children do not receive vaccines within the recommended timeframe. This study examined ethnic and socioeconomic differences in age-appropriate immunization of children in Israel, where immunization is freely available. Percent of children receiving MMR/V at 12-13 months, and four doses of DTP/IPV/Hib by 18 months were obtained from the National Programme for Quality Measures between 2015 and 2018.

Uptake of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination among general hospital staff in Israel.

Data from all general hospitals in Israel to April 2021 show that the mean hospital rate of staff vaccination was 84.4% for the first dose and 77.1% for the second dose, which are lower than general population rate, with mean 7% who did not complete their vaccinations.

Reforming the MRI system: the Israeli National Program to shorten waiting times and increase efficiency.

Background: Long waiting times (WT) for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are a challenge in many countries and demand is forecast to increase with ageing populations. Since MRI is essential for diagnosis in numerous medical conditions, timely performance is of the utmost importance.

Objective: To describe the multi-faceted program developed by the Israel Ministry of Health (MoH) to shorten WT for MRI and increase efficiency, and to examine lessons that can be learned for other health systems.

Public image of the profession is associated with the choice of nursing career among Arab high school students: A cross-sectional study.

Aims: The aim of this study is to examine (a) public image of nursing and the intention to choose nursing as a future career and (b) the relationship between the public image, gender roles and the choice of the nursing career among Arab high school students.

Background: School graduates from the Arab sector represent an important social group with the potential to provide quality candidates for the nursing profession in Israel.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 138 high school students from two Arab schools in Israel completed a structured questionnaire.

Issues surrounding incentives and penalties for COVID-19 vaccination: The Israeli experience.

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of COVID-19 vaccination in Israel and how these relate to different proposals made about benefits for those vaccinated, and to present the legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding these issues. A retrospective study of COVID-19 vaccination rates in Israel was conducted, with data obtained from the Ministry of Health (MOH). Information on benefits proposed or offered for vaccination and restrictions for non-vaccination were obtained from the MOH and presented in a timeline.