Vibeke Sparring

Economic and social impact of diabetes mellitus in a low-income country: A case–control study in Sudan

Diabetes mellitus accounts for 11% of total health expenditure worldwide, and most people with diabetes live in low‐ and middle‐income countries. The present study examined the economic and social effects attributed to diabetes in Sudan by calculating out‐of‐pocket medical expenses and the health and social effects of the disease for people with diabetes (n = 375) and their families compared with a non‐diabetic control group (n = 375), matched for age, sex, and residence area.

Improving health related quality of life among rural hypertensive patients through the integrative strategy of health services delivery: a quasi-experimental trial from Chongqing, China

BackgroundIntegrative strategy of health services delivery has been proven to be effective in economically developed countries, where the healthcare systems have enough qualified primary care providers. However rural China lacks such providers to act as gatekeeper, besides, Chinese rural hypertensive patients are usually of old age, more likely to be exposed to health risk factors and they experience a greater socio-economic burden. All these Chinese rural setting specific features make the effectiveness of integrative strategy of health services in improving health related quality of life among Chinese rural hypertensive patients uncertain.MethodsIn order to assess the impact of integrative strategy of health services delivery on health related quality of life among Chinese rural hypertensive patients, a two-year quasi-experimental trial was conducted in Chongqing, China. At baseline the sample enrolled 1006 hypertensive patients into intervention group and 420 hypertensive patients into control group. Physicians from village clinics, town hospitals and county hospitals worked collaboratively to deliver multidisciplinary health services for the intervention group, while physicians in the control group provided services without cooperation. The quality of life was studied by SF-36 Scale. Blood pressures were reported by town hospitals. The Difference-in-Differences model was used to estimate the differences in SF-36 score and blood pressure of both groups to assess the impact.ResultsThe study showed that at baseline there was no statistical difference in SF-36 scores between both groups. While at follow-up the intervention group scored higher in overall SF-36, Role Physical, Body Pain, Social Functioning and Role Emotional than the control group. The Difference-in-Differences result demonstrated that there were statistical differences in SF-36 total score (p = 0.011), Role Physical (p = 0.027), Social Functioning (p = 0.000), Role Emotional (p = 0.002) between both groups. Integrative services delivery improved the score of SF-36 by 4.591 ± 1.794, and also improved the score in domains of Role Physical, Social Functioning and Role Emotional by 8.289 ± 3.753, 9.762 ± 2.019 and 12.534 ± 4.083, respectively.ConclusionPatients in the intervention group obtained lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Integrative strategy of health services delivery improved health related quality of life and blood pressure control among rural Chinese hypertensive patients.Trial registrationThe Ethics Committee of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, ChiCTR-OOR-14005563, Registered on 7 June 2011.

Changing healthcare utilization patterns in diabetes mellitus: case-control studies 1 year and 8 years after diagnosis

Diabet. Med. 29, 784–791 (2012)

Changing healthcare utilization patterns in diabetes mellitus : case-control studies 1 year and 8 years after diagnosis

Diabet. Med. 29, 784–791 (2012)

Effectiveness, costs and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care and physiotherapy compared with information and advice in the treatment of non-specific chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundLow back pain is a global public health problem and a leading cause of disability all over the world. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain is 70–80% and a significant proportion of people affected develop chronic low back pain (CLBP). Besides a severe negative impact on people’s health and health-related quality of life, CLBP is associated with substantial costs for society. Medical costs for the management of CLBP and costs for production losses due to absenteeism from work are sizeable. Pharmaceuticals, physical activity, manipulation, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions are examples of widely used treatments for CLBP. However, the scientific basis to recommend the use of one treatment over another is limited and more research is needed to study the effects, costs and cost-effectiveness of treatments for CLBP in clinical practice.The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness (back pain-related functional limitation, back pain intensity, general health, health-related quality of life, and working status), costs (medical costs and costs for production losses) and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care and physiotherapy when added to information and advice in the treatment of patients with non-specific CLBP in Sweden.Methods/designThis is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial, where participants are recruited through six primary care rehabilitation units (PCRUs) in Stockholm County Council, Sweden. Individuals with non-specific CLBP are individually randomised to one of four treatment groups: ‘information and advice’; ‘physiotherapy, and information and advice’; ‘chiropractic care, and information and advice’; or ‘chiropractic care, physiotherapy, and information and advice’. A sample size of 600 participants will be recruited during a period of 33 months. A computer-based questionnaire is used to collect data on back pain-related functional limitation (Oswestry Disability Index), pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale), general health (self-rated health), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), and working status (measured as percentage of full-time work). Data will be collected at baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after baseline.DiscussionThe results from our study should be considered when producing evidence-based guidelines and recommendations on which treatment strategies to use for CLBP.Trial registrationISRCTN registry, ID: ISRCTN15830360. Registered prospectively on 2 February 2017.

One size fits none – a qualitative study investigating nine national quality registries’ conditions for use in quality improvement, research and interaction with patients

BackgroundSwedish National Quality Registries (NQRs) are observational clinical registries that have long been seen as an underused resource for research and quality improvement (QI) in health care. In recent years, NQRs have also been recognised as an area where patients can be involved, contributing with self-reported experiences and estimations of health effects. This study aimed to investigate what the registry management perceived as barriers and facilitators for the use of NQRs in QI, research, and interaction with patients, and main activities undertaken to enhance their use for these purposes. The aim was further to identify potential differences between various types of NQRs for their use in these areas.MethodsIn this multiple case study, nine NQRs were purposively selected. Interviews (n = 18) were conducted and analysed iteratively using conventional and directed content analysis.ResultsA recent national investment initiative enabled more intensive work with development areas previously identified by the NQR management teams. The recent focus on value-based health care and other contemporary national healthcare investments aiming at QI and public benchmarking were perceived as facilitating factors. Having to perform double registrations due to shortcomings in digital systems was perceived as a barrier, as was the lack of authority on behalf of the registry management to request participation in NQRs and QI activities based on registry outcomes. The registry management teams used three strategies to enhance the use of NQRs: ensuring registering of correct and complete data, ensuring updated and understandable information available for patients, clinicians, researchers and others stakeholders, and intensifying cooperation with them. Varied characteristics of the NQRs influenced their use, and the possibility to reach various end-users was connected to the focus area and context of the NQRs.ConclusionsThe recent national investment initiative contributed to already ongoing work to strengthen the use of NQRs. To further increase the use, the demands of stakeholders and end-users must be in focus, but also an understanding of the NQRs’ various characteristics and challenges. The end-users may have in common a need for training in the methodology of registry based research and benchmarking, and how to be more patient-centred.

Vertical integrated service model: an educational intervention for chronic disease management and its effects in rural China – a study protocol

BackgroundChronic diseases are becoming a huge threat to the Chinese health system. Although the New Round of Medical Reform aims to improve this, the chronic disease management in rural China is still worrying as it relies highly on hospital care instead of primary care. The vertical integrated care model has proven to be effective for chronic disease patients in many high-income countries, while few studies have been conducted in China. In this project, vertical integrated care will be applied to optimize the care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and primary hypertension in rural China, and to shift the care from hospital to primary care.MethodsAn educational intervention was conducted in three pilot counties in Jiangsu province, a high-income province in southeast China. The intervention was based on the model of vertical integrated care between the three-levels of healthcare institutions. In the pilot counties, 22 townships were included (11 in the intervention and control groups, respectively). Service teams assembled by the local health bureaus implemented the intervention which provides services for both patients and healthcare professionals. Questionnaire interviews (n = 4259) and medical records were used to collect patient data (physiological measures, health-related quality of life, satisfaction with care). Data from healthcare professionals (n = 282) was gathered through questionnaires and in-depth interviews (knowledge about chronic diseases, general procedure of diagnosing and registering, chronic disease management situation, perceptions of chronic disease treatment and prevention). Baseline data were collected before the start of the intervention in Nov 2015, follow-up data in Oct-Nov 2016, and final data completed in Jul-Aug 2017.DiscussionThe intervention has been conducted smoothly and gotten support from patients, healthcare institutions and local health authorities. The research team anticipates that the vertical integrated model will improve patients’ health, satisfaction with care, and their understanding of their chronic disease. We also anticipate that healthcare professionals can acquire more information about chronic diseases and improve their strategy for providing good quality care for patients.Trial registrationISRCTN13319989 Registration date: 4th April, 2017.