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1 – 10 of over 3000Fadly Syah Arsad and Noor Hassim Ismail
The purpose of this study was to assess tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes among new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients and identify the risk factors of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to assess tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes among new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients and identify the risk factors of unsuccessful treatment outcomes in Kepong district, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using registry-based data from the Tuberculosis Information System (TBIS) between 2014 and 2018. Simple random sampling was used to select 734 males and 380 females from the TBIS registry. Smear-positive PTB patient's sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics were extracted and analyzed. Logistic regression was used to find the possible independent risk factors for unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
Findings
The treatment success rate was 77.20% (n = 860) which was still below the target set by the WHO (>90%). In total, 254 patients showed an unsuccessful treatment outcome: 106 died, 99 defaulted, 47 not evaluated and 2 showed treatment failure. Unsuccessful treatment outcome was significantly associated with older age, male gender, non-citizen, unemployment and being HIV positive.
Originality/value
The study focuses on all these contributing factors of unsuccessful treatment outcome for a better risk assessment and stratification of TB patients and identify effective surveillance and management strategies to strengthen the control programs of tuberculosis in Kepong district.
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Medard Kofi Adu, Ejemai Eboreime, Adegboyega Oyekunbi Sapara, Andrew James Greenshaw, Pierre Chue and Vincent Israel Opoku Agyapong
This paper aims to explore the relevant literature available regarding the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a mode of treatment for…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the relevant literature available regarding the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a mode of treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); to evaluate the evidence to support the use of rTMS as a treatment option for OCD.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors electronically conducted data search in five research databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Psych INFO, SCOPUS and EMBASE) using all identified keywords and index terms across all the databases to identify empirical studies and randomized controlled trials. The authors included articles published with randomized control designs, which aimed at the treatment of OCD with rTMS. Only full-text published articles written in English were reviewed. Review articles on treatment for conditions other than OCD were excluded. The Covidence software was used to manage and streamline the review.
Findings
Despite the inconsistencies in the published literature, the application of rTMS over the supplementary motor area and the orbitofrontal cortex has proven to be promising in efficacy and tolerability compared with other target regions such as the prefrontal cortex for the treatment of OCD. Despite the diversity in terms of the outcomes and clinical variability of the studies under review, rTMS appears to be a promising treatment intervention for OCD.
Research limitations/implications
The authors of this scoping review acknowledge several limitations. First, the search strategy considered only studies published in English and the results are up to date as the last day of the electronic data search of December 10, 2020. Though every effort was made to identify all relevant studies for the purposes of this review per the eligibility criteria, the authors still may have missed some relevant studies, especially those published in other languages.
Originality/value
This review brought to bare the varying literature on the application of rTMS and what is considered gaps in the knowledge in this area in an attempt to evaluate and provide information on the potential therapeutic effects of rTMS for OCD.
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Corinna Ghirelli, Enkelejda Havari, Giulia Santangelo and Marta Scettri
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a recent training programme for graduates, implemented in Italy and entitled Work Experience Laureati and Laureate, i.e. Work Experience…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a recent training programme for graduates, implemented in Italy and entitled Work Experience Laureati and Laureate, i.e. Work Experience for Graduates. The aim of the programme was to increase the career prospects of unemployed graduates in the region of Umbria.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors rely on administrative data and matching methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in terms of employability of participants.
Findings
The results show that participants are more likely to be employed and to sign an apprenticeship contract within the region boundaries. The authors also find substantial differences in employability and type of contract by gender, with men having a higher probability of finding a job (permanent contract and apprenticeship). The authors show that this may be explained by the different choices in terms of field of study, with males being more prone to enrol in scientific areas and females in the humanities.
Research limitations/implications
It is an intervention implemented in one Italian region.
Originality/value
This is one of the few studies that analyses the effectiveness of active labour market policies targeting unemployed graduates, especially in the Italian context. The authors rely on different administrative data sources that allow them to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme.
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Onn Laingoen, Tawatchai Apidechkul, Panupong Upala, Ratipark Tamornpark, Chaleerat Foungnual and Rattakarn Paramee
The purpose of this paper is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and care in two Thai hospitals located on the borders with Myanmar and Laos.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and care in two Thai hospitals located on the borders with Myanmar and Laos.
Design/methodology/approach
A retrospective data collection was conducted to analyze all costs relevant to TB treatment and care from Mae Sai and Chiang Sean Hospitals. The cost related to TB treatment and care and the number of successful TB treatment from January 1 to December 31, 2017 were used for the calculation. The cost-effectiveness ratio (C/E) and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were the outcomes.
Findings
In 2017, the total cost of the TB treatment and care program at Mae Sai Hospital was 482,728.94 baht for 57 TB patients. The cast per treated case per year was 8,468.93 baht. The C/E was 10,971.11 baht per successful TB treatment (44 successful cases). The total cost of the TB treatment and care program at Chiang Sean Hospital was 330,578.73 baht for 39 TB patients. The cost per treated case per year was 8,476.38 baht. The C/E was 22,038.58 baht per successful TB treatment (15 successful cases). The ICER was 5,246.56 baht. The Mae Sai Hospital model was more cost-effective in terms of the treatment and care provided to Burmese patients with TB than the Chiang Sean Hospital model for Laotian patients with TB.
Originality/value
To improve the cost-effectiveness of TB treatment and care programs for foreign patients in hospitals located on the Thai border, focus should be placed on patient follow-up at the community or village level.
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Anders Fredriksson and Gustavo Magalhães de Oliveira
This paper aims to present the Difference-in-Differences (DiD) method in an accessible language to a broad research audience from a variety of management-related fields.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the Difference-in-Differences (DiD) method in an accessible language to a broad research audience from a variety of management-related fields.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes the DiD method, starting with an intuitive explanation, goes through the main assumptions and the regression specification and covers the use of several robustness methods. Recurrent examples from the literature are used to illustrate the different concepts.
Findings
By providing an overview of the method, the authors cover the main issues involved when conducting DiD studies, including the fundamentals as well as some recent developments.
Originality/value
The paper can hopefully be of value to a broad range of management scholars interested in applying impact evaluation methods.
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Theerakorn Theerakittikul, Jindarat Chaiard and Jirawan Deeluea
The purpose is to assess the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and daytime functioning among Thai…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose is to assess the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and daytime functioning among Thai obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.
Design/methodology/approach
A repeated measures clinical intervention design was implemented. Participants were 50 patients first time diagnosed with OSA and prescribed CPAP treatment. The intervention composed of CPAP health education, and follow-up evaluation. Data on CPAP adherence were downloaded from Smartcards of the CPAP device. The Thai PSQI, ESS and FSAQ-10 questionnaires were administered at baseline, 1-month, and 3-months. Descriptive statistics and repeated measure analysis with multilevel mixed-effects modeling approach were used.
Findings
Thirty-nine participants completed the study. Approximately 53% (n = 25) and 71.1% (n = 27) of the patients adhered to CPAP treatment by the end of the 1- and 3-months, respectively. After controlling for patients’ adherence, at 1-month follow-up, the intervention improved quality of sleep (β = −2.65, 95% CI = −1.60, −4.13), daytime functioning (β = 3.24, 95% CI = 1.87, 4.61) and decreased daytime sleepiness (β = −3.29, 95% CI = −1.85, −4.73). At 3 months, the intervention still improved quality of sleep (β = −3.53, 95% CI = −2.05, −5.01), and daytime functioning (β = 4.34, 95% CI = 2.76, 5.92), and decreased daytime sleepiness (β = −4.82, 95% CI = −3.16, −6.49).
Originality/value
Adherence to CPAP treatment is effective in improving sleep quality, daytime functioning and reducing daytime sleepiness. Patient-oriented strategies for enhancing CPAP adherence should be developed and implemented as a standard care in sleep clinics.
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Katarina Labajova, Julia Höhler, Carl-Johan Lagerkvist, Jörg Müller and Jens Rommel
People’s tendency to overestimate their ability to control random events, known as illusion of control, can affect financial decisions under uncertainty. This study developed an…
Abstract
Purpose
People’s tendency to overestimate their ability to control random events, known as illusion of control, can affect financial decisions under uncertainty. This study developed an artifactual field experiment on illusion of control for a farm machinery investment.
Design/methodology/approach
In an experiment with two treatments, the individual farmer was either given or not given a sense of control over a random outcome. After each decision, the authors elicited perceived control, and a questionnaire collected additional indirect measures of illusion of control from 78 German farmers and 10 farm advisors.
Findings
The results did not support preregistered hypotheses of the presence of illusion of control. This null result was robust over multiple outcomes and model specifications. The findings demonstrate that cognitive biases may be small and difficult to replicate.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is not representative for the German farming population. The authors discuss why the estimated treatment effect may represent a lower bound of the true effect.
Originality/value
Illusion of control is well-studied in laboratory settings, but little is known about the extent to which farmers’ behavior is influenced by illusion of control.
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Omran Alomran, Robin Qiu and Hui Yang
Breast cancer is a global public health dilemma and the most prevalent cancer in the world. Effective treatment plans improve patient survival rates and well-being. The five-year…
Abstract
Purpose
Breast cancer is a global public health dilemma and the most prevalent cancer in the world. Effective treatment plans improve patient survival rates and well-being. The five-year survival rate is often used to develop treatment selection and survival prediction models. However, unlike other types of cancer, breast cancer patients can have long survival rates. Therefore, the authors propose a novel two-level framework to provide clinical decision support for treatment selection contingent on survival prediction.
Design/methodology/approach
The first level classifies patients into different survival periods using machine learning algorithms. The second level has two models with different survival rates (five-year and ten-year). Thus, based on the classification results of the first level, the authors employed Bayesian networks (BNs) to infer the effect of treatment on survival in the second level.
Findings
The authors validated the proposed approach with electronic health record data from the TriNetX Research Network. For the first level, the authors obtained 85% accuracy in survival classification. For the second level, the authors found that the topology of BNs using Causal Minimum Message Length had the highest accuracy and area under the ROC curve for both models. Notably, treatment selection substantially impacted survival rates, implying the two-level approach better aided clinical decision support on treatment selection.
Originality/value
The authors have developed a reference tool for medical practitioners that supports treatment decisions and patient education to identify patient treatment preferences and to enhance patient healthcare.
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Suzie McGreevy and Pauline Boland
An emerging evidence base, and increased awareness of the effects of trauma on the body, advocates a sensory-based approach to treatment with posttraumatic stress and complex…
Abstract
Purpose
An emerging evidence base, and increased awareness of the effects of trauma on the body, advocates a sensory-based approach to treatment with posttraumatic stress and complex trauma survivors. This paper aims to identify, analyse and summarise the empirical evidence for the sensory-based interventions, which occupational therapists are using in the treatment of adult and adolescent trauma survivors.
Design/methodology/approach
An integrative review of the literature was undertaken. Both empirical and conceptual papers were included. An inductive approach and constant comparative method were used to understand and synthesise the research.
Findings
The literature search yielded 18 papers describing the types of sensory-based interventions used, sensory processing (SP) patterns and the context and evidence for sensory-based occupational therapy practice with trauma survivors. Nine of the studies were empirical and nine were conceptual and review papers. Themes identified included: atypical SP patterns; type of sensory-based intervention used with trauma survivors; and transdisciplinary treatment programmes can reduce the symptoms of trauma.
Practical implications
Sensory-based interventions with adult and adolescent trauma survivors are emerging as promising areas of practice and research in the literature. Although empirical data is limited, the sensory needs of the body in processing trauma experiences is becoming more recognised and are supported by the atypical SP patterns identified in survivors. A sensory-based, transdisciplinary approach to treatment has the potential to be effective in treating the trauma survivor.
Originality/value
With a skill base in sensory integration and occupational analysis, occupational therapists have much to offer the field of trauma studies. This review begins to address the gap in the literature, recommending more rigorous controlled outcome research with larger sample sizes, person-centred studies focussing on the trauma survivor’s perspective and continuing professional development and mentorship for occupational therapists working with this population.
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