Kimiko Mizuma, Marie Amitani, Rie Ibusuki, Tetsuhiro Owaki
{"title":"Development, implementation, and evaluation of a local community-based ophthalmology sentinel surveillance system in a remote rural area in Japan.","authors":"Kimiko Mizuma, Marie Amitani, Rie Ibusuki, Tetsuhiro Owaki","doi":"10.22605/RRH8005","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH8005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Solid and sensitive infectious disease surveillance systems need to be developed and implemented to prevent and control epidemics. Although statutory national infectious disease surveillance systems have been developed in many countries, some challenges remain, such as their limited timeliness, representativeness, and sensitivity, as well as the fact that they cannot capture all local outbreaks that occur in small communities. To overcome these limitations, local community-based infectious disease surveillance systems that meet local needs and can operate with constrained resources need to be developed, especially in remote and rural low-resource areas. This study aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a voluntary and unique local community-based ophthalmology sentinel surveillance system in Isa city (OSSS-Isa), a remote rural area in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>For the development of OSSS-Isa, one hospital in Isa city assumed a leading role and developed a network with all medical institutions - 20 hospitals and clinics in the local community, including two ophthalmology clinics - as sentinel reporting sites. Surveillance was conducted on a weekly basis from Monday to Sunday. The collection, aggregation, and reporting of the surveillance data were implemented promptly on the same day, Monday, using a paper-based form and fax. For the evaluation of OSSS-Isa, the study followed the updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to select the evaluation criteria and develop a questionnaire. The questionnaires were then distributed to 20 hospitals and clinics, with the responses evaluated on a five-point Likert scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For the implementation of OSSS-Isa, the system issued alerts twice to the networked hospitals and clinics when signs of an increase in the prevalence of a target infectious eye disease appeared in Isa city. After the alerts, the number of cases decreased in the community. Regarding the evaluation survey, physicians from 18 hospitals and clinics responded to the questionnaire (response rate 90%). In contrast to flexibility, more than 75% of the respondents gave high ratings to simplicity, data quality, acceptability, timeliness, and stability in evaluating OSSS-Isa, with the mean score for these evaluation criteria higher than 3.67.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present results indicate that OSSS-Isa has high simplicity, data quality, acceptability, timeliness, and stability, which is highly embedded with the local healthcare providers in Isa city. OSSS-Isa contributed to the early and accurate detection of signs of infectious eye disease outbreaks emerging in a small remote rural local community. The success factors seem to include its simple well-designed implementation methods, good external factors, and active human factors suited to the characteristics of the small","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"8005"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41178065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dong Hyun Kim, Jinhee Park, Jae-Young Lim, Sun Gun Chung, Sang Yoon Lee
{"title":"Rural-urban differences of sarcopenia and spinal health in the older women: a comparative observational study.","authors":"Dong Hyun Kim, Jinhee Park, Jae-Young Lim, Sun Gun Chung, Sang Yoon Lee","doi":"10.22605/RRH8058","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH8058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>We aimed to investigate the correlation between spinal sarcopenia, spinal sagittal balance (SSB), and spinal function in older women living in rural areas versus those of the older urban women in our previous study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-five older rural-dwelling women aged more than 70 years were compared with 24 older urban-dwelling women from our previous study. Demographic variables, conventional and spinal sarcopenic indices, variable functional outcome parameters, occupational state, and exercise participation rate were evaluated. We also measured the isometric back extensor strength, radiological parameters for SSB on whole-spine radiography, and volumetric parameters of the lumbar extensor muscle on computed tomography.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were no significant intergroup differences in demographic variables or the prevalence of sarcopenia. Older women in rural areas had greater handgrip strength than those in urban areas (22.7±3.7 kg v 20.0±3.4 kg, p=0.010). However, their mean lumbar lordosis angle was lower (31.7±15.3° v 42.3±11.2°, p=0.012). Isometric back extensor strength was lower in rural women than in urban women. The vocational activity participation rate of rural women was significantly higher (84% v 12.5%, p<0.001), whereas their exercise participation rate was significantly lower (60% v 92%, p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Older women in rural areas had greater handgrip strength and vocational participation rates but lower back extensor strength and exercise participation rates. Therefore, more attention is needed for healthcare services to support their spinal health and exercise habits.</p>","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"8058"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41152791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Belinda G O'Sullivan, Shane Boyer, Angela Stratton, Matthew R McGrail, Jacque Phillips, Julie Faoro
{"title":"Outcomes of rural generalist internship training in Victoria, Australia.","authors":"Belinda G O'Sullivan, Shane Boyer, Angela Stratton, Matthew R McGrail, Jacque Phillips, Julie Faoro","doi":"10.22605/RRH7889","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH7889","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Victoria, Australia commenced its first Rural Community Internship Training program in 2012 to support the development of rural generalist (RG) doctors. These general practitioners have additional skills to work at a broad scope to deliver the range of primary care and additional specialist services that communities need. Unlike most internships, which are wholly hospital-based and delivered mostly within larger metropolitan and regional centres, this RG internship training model involves completing general practice experience in smaller rural communities working with RGs and visiting specialists. This study aimed to explore the characteristics and satisfaction of doctors who participate in RG internship training in Victoria and their workforce outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between October and November 2021, a retrospective 10-minute anonymous survey invitation was sent to all contactable interns (n=222) who had completed/were completing the RG internship training (2012-2021). The survey was co-designed with RG internship managers and other stakeholders of a statewide evaluation advisory group, informed by the latest evidence regarding RG medicine and rural training predictors, and outcomes of interest. Participants completed the survey using Microsoft Forms, with three invitations circulated to an up-to-date email address maintained by the internship program. Collected data were analysed descriptively, by subgroup, to explore training pathway outcomes by region, training stage and specialty choice. Workforce distribution outcomes were defined in line with objectives of the program and predetermined indicators of RG scope. Results were compared with the benchmarks of rural workforce training outcomes in Australia using recent research.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 59 participants (27% response rate); 81% were in postgraduate years 3-7. Respondents included 54% male, 17% rurally bonded, 39% of rural origin, 34% having had more than 3 months rural undergraduate training and 48% doing RG training where they previously did undergraduate training. All were satisfied/very satisfied with the RG training and 61% were working in general practice (excluding the prevocational group). Overall, 40% were currently working in the same rural region as their internship (including three who were currently interns), 56% continued to complete some prevocational training in the same region as their RG internship, while 20% had gone on to be currently based in smaller rural communities (Modified Monash Model locations 4-7) and 44% to be working part-time in smaller rural communities. Overall, 42% self-identified as working as an RG and nearly all (97%) met at least one of the key indicators of extended (RG) scope. In all areas the RG internship outcomes were better than the national benchmarks from published evidence about rural training.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides evidence from do","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"7889"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50158684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the efficacy of an educational approach of case-writing for remote learners: insights from a novice writer.","authors":"Kenko Aoki, Chiharu Ota, Yosuke Kakisaka","doi":"10.22605/RRH8527","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH8527","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>empty.</p>","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"8527"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49681749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diana Morales-Jadan, Bernardo Castro-Rodriguez, Angel Sebastian Rodriguez, Esteban Ortiz-Prado, Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain
{"title":"PCR testing in domestic flights to Galapagos Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic: an effective public policy to control SARS-CoV-2 spread in remote and vulnerable populations.","authors":"Diana Morales-Jadan, Bernardo Castro-Rodriguez, Angel Sebastian Rodriguez, Esteban Ortiz-Prado, Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain","doi":"10.22605/RRH8719","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH8719","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"8719"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41146519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruhann Botha, Danyca S Breedt, Dylan Barnard, Ian Couper
{"title":"Lessons from innovation in medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic: student perspectives on distributed training.","authors":"Ruhann Botha, Danyca S Breedt, Dylan Barnard, Ian Couper","doi":"10.22605/RRH8257","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH8257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Can the forced adaptation brought about by COVID-19 inform the future of clinical education? This study brings a low- and middle-income country perspective to this question. Most studies of the impact of COVID-19 on medical students' training have been conducted in high-income countries, where the infrastructure to convert to alternative virtual or COVID-19-friendly training platforms (online teaching or case discussions and skill development centres) is more established than in low- and middle-income countries. In South Africa, Stellenbosch University instead chose to move substantial components of clinical training away from the traditional city tertiary campus and into smaller district hospitals. The main objective of this study was to ascertain the perspectives of these student interns regarding the quality of their restructured training at distributed health facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare the perspectives of rural-site students with those of metropolitan (metro)-site students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted by REDCap survey. Quantitative data were analysed by SPSS Statistics by doing descriptive and inferential statistics. The statistical significance of associations was determined by a p-value of <0.05. Likert-scale questions were analysed as ordinal variables to determine distribution of the responses, and non-parametric Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare distributions between rural and metro groups. Qualitative questions were analysed thematically by identifying common themes. Ethical approval was obtained for the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 155 respondents (62% response rate). Although 74.6% of participants indicated that they developed approaches to undifferentiated problems and illnesses, rural-site students were more likely to perceive that they learnt new procedures (p=0.006) and improved their ability to perform procedures previously learnt (p=0.002) compared to metro-site students. Rural-site students reported that they saw more patients independently than during previous training (p<0.001) and felt that they took more responsibility for patient management (p<0.001) than metro-site students. Students at rural sites were more likely to agree that training during the pandemic provided good learning opportunities (p<0.001) and that medical students form a necessary part of the pandemic response. Overall, students at both distributed sites felt that their training gave them more confidence for their future internship than previous training at central teaching hospitals (median=2 (agree)).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic provided challenges for the continuation of quality medical training. It also provided the opportunity for innovative changes. This study demonstrates the successful outcomes, even during the pandemic, of distributed-site training, where students are immersed in the healthcare","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"8257"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71413818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical characteristics and application value of risk prediction models of acute appendicitis in rural Tibet: a retrospective study.","authors":"Zhiqiang Dai, Jie Liu, Ling Chen","doi":"10.22605/RRH7709","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH7709","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Acute appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide; however, its diagnosis remains challenging, particularly in rural or remote areas such as Tibet. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and applicability of the routine risk prediction models of acute appendicitis for rural Tibetan populations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data of patients who underwent appendectomy at the Chaya People's Hospital between 1 April 2018 and 30 September 2021 were retrospectively collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with complicated appendicitis. The appendicitis risk prediction model scores for each patient were calculated by the binary logistic regression model based on the data. The index of union method was applied to identify the optimal cut-off value for the critical values of risk prediction models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We included 127 patients with suspected acute appendicitis in the study, consisting of 96 surgically and 31 non-surgically treated. The diagnoses of 93 patients who underwent appendectomy included 55 (59.1%) cases of uncomplicated appendicitis. Patients with complicated appendicitis had a significantly longer postoperative hospital stay (11.0 (interquartile range 8.8-13.3) days v 8.0 (interquartile range 6.0-11.0) days; p<0.001) and higher hospital costs (US$2147.2 (interquartile range US$1625.1-2516.6) v US$1487.9 (interquartile range US$1202.6-1809.2); p24 hours, age >30 years, and male sex were independent risk factors associated with complicated appendicitis. The appendicitis inflammatory response score showed the best performance among the prediction models. Incorporating imaging features in the prediction models may provide better diagnostic value for appendicitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Acute appendicitis in the rural Tibetan population has unique clinical features. To reduce the incidence of complicated appendicitis, local health workers must balance religious beliefs and professional services for residents.</p>","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"7709"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49681748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association of physical performance and sarcopenia with use of health services in elderly people living in rural riverside areas in the Amazon: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Aline Melo Queiroz, Jansen Atier Estrázulas, Luiza Garnelo, Jordana Herzog Siqueira, Fernanda Rodrigues Fonseca, Fernando J Herkrath","doi":"10.22605/RRH7957","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH7957","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Access is considered one of the necessary conditions for achieving effectiveness and quality in health services. However, it represents a complex construct, with several interpretations, and can be understood as the ease or degree of difficulty with which people obtain effective and timely care. Barriers to access can be related to individual characteristics and those of health systems and services. Regarding elderly people living in rural riverine localities, these limitations are exacerbated due to the territorial dispersion of households and the difficulty of obtaining the necessary care near their homes. The aim of this study was to describe and test the association of sarcopenia and physical performance with primary healthcare attributes and the use of health services by elderly people living in rural riverside areas in the Amazon, Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in households with individuals aged 60 years or older living in nine communities located on the left bank of the Negro River, in the rural riverside area of the municipality of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. The study evaluated socioeconomic and demographic conditions, health services utilization and the primary care attributes related to the use of and access to services, assessed by components of the Primary Care Assessment Tool instrument (PCATool-Brazil), a reduced version validated for Brazilian adult users. Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery scale, and handgrip strength was also assessed, according to a dynamometer. The Sarcopenia Formulary (SARC-F) and calf circumference (CC) were used to assess sarcopenia (SARC-CalF). The association of sarcopenia and physical performance with the study outcomes was evaluated using hierarchical logistic regression for health services utilization (having had a medical consultation in the last year), and hierarchical linear regression for the continuous outcomes of the PCATool-Brazil (total score and each of the domains). The sociodemographic variables were inserted in model 1 and the clinical variables in model 2. Variables with p<0.20 were kept in the models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 98 elderly people (55.1% men; mean age 70±7.4 years) were included in the study. Low physical performance and suggestive signs of sarcopenia were observed in 52.5% and 28.9% of the study participants, respectively. Elderly with better physical performance reported more health services utilization (odds ratio (OR)=1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03-1.81) and higher scores in the affiliation (β=1.67; 95%CI=0.37-2.98), utilization (β=1.19; 95%CI=0.06-2.33) and longitudinality (β=0.99; 95%CI=0.09-1.90) domains of the PCATool-Brazil.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study findings showed high prevalence of impairment in physical performance and suggestive signs of sarcopenia in eld","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"7957"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41157785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Accessing voluntary assisted dying in regional Western Australia: early reflections from key stakeholders.","authors":"Casey M Haining, Lindy Willmott, Ben P White","doi":"10.22605/RRH8024","DOIUrl":"10.22605/RRH8024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Most Australian jurisdictions have passed voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws, with some regimes already in operation. Inequitable access to assisted dying in regional communities has been described internationally. Although regional access to VAD has been identified as a concern in Australia, to date it has been understudied empirically. Western Australia (WA) was the second Australian jurisdiction to pass and implement VAD laws. Due to the vast geography of WA (and the potential for such geography to exacerbate regional access inequities) several initiatives were introduced to try to mitigate such inequities. This article aims to explore the effectiveness of these initiatives, and report on regional provision of VAD in WA more generally, by drawing on the early experiences and reflections of key stakeholders.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 participants belonging to four main stakeholder groups: patients and families, health practitioners, regulators and VAD system personnel, and health and professional organisation representatives. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data analysis led to the description of four main themes: the importance of the Regional Access Support Scheme, the need for local providers, the role of telehealth in VAD provision and the impact of distance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Early experiences and reflections of key stakeholders suggest that while many of the regional initiatives implemented by WA are largely effective in addressing regional access inequities, challenges for regional VAD provision and access remain.</p>","PeriodicalId":21460,"journal":{"name":"Rural and remote health","volume":"23 4","pages":"8024"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"54230824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}