Outcomes of Integrated Community Care Interventions for Frail Elderly People: A Literature Review

This study aimed to summarize the outcome measures and the significant outcome of effective integrated community care for frail elderly people through a literature review. A literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Library and PubMed for articles published up to November 2016 with the following search terms: Integrated community care, primary care, community, frail elderly, and effectiveness. A total of 106 articles were identified, of which eight with an interventional research design the inclusion criteria. All outcome measures were classified into the three categories: Functional abilities, quality of life, and health. As the significant effect, the physical function was perceived in four references, the quality of life in one reference, and the mental health in one reference. The evidence of the effectiveness of integrated community care seemed to be lacking. More studies will need to be conducted.

Evaluation Items for Community-Based Health Care Focusing on Social Aspects: A Literature Review

The progressive aging of society has become a global concern, and is expected to lead to the development of effective, sustainable, person-centered, integrated community-based care systems. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding effective integrated community-based care. In particular, few studies have focused on social aspects of the community environment related to elderly health. This study aimed to consider social aspects as evaluation items, focusing particularly on social determinants from the perspective of community-dwelling people, to explore truly effective integrated community-based care to improve elderly health. The definition of social determinants means social cohesion in social and community contexts. A literature review of English articles published in peer-reviewed journals up to October 2019 was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL with the following search terms: “social cohesion,” “elderly health,” “mental health” and “community.” Identified articles were screened based on title and abstract, and selected articles were subjected to full-text assessment and critical review. All references cited in the selected articles were also reviewed. The following inclusion criteria were used: 1) studies targeting community-dwelling elderly people or community-dwelling people including elderly people as participants;2) studies with clear descriptions of social factors in the Methods section;and 3) studies with clear descriptions of health-related items in the Methods section. From the 21 articles analyzed, of which 9 articles defined social determinants as social cohesion in social and community context, 37 items were extracted as social aspects at the community level that reflect the perspective of residents. These items can be developed as evaluation items for community-based health care outcomes through consensus among community health care providers and further investigation.

Role of Community Health Practitioners in National Development: The Nigeria Situation

This is a review paper that brings to focus, concepts of Community Health Practice that connect Community Health Practitioners’ Roles to National development in view of its composite index improvement measure of social welfare services provision among others for the citizens of a country over time, with particular emphasis on medical care component of such index aimed at reduction in diseases and poverty in the population. The objective of the review work is to determine the extent to which Community Health Practice, particularly by Community Health Practitioners is capable of ensuring National Development in democratic governance or otherwise, in the context of our country, Nigeria. The methodology applied was traditional review of published literatures concerning the subject and findings of operational research of programme implemented by Community Health Practitioners at the Primary Health Care facilities and household level in the communities. This paper emphasizes on Primary Health Care services delivery contribution to National Development, since it is the level where Community Health Practitioners are mainly commissioned to render their services. Home-Based Care Strategy for Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health piloted in three (3) local government areas (Ahoada West, Etche and Oyigbo) in Rivers State, Nigeria, in 2012 and implemented by Community Health Practitioners, aimed at reducing maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality by 20% by 2015 in line with the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, had been shown to achieve an average of 26% improvement in utilization of maternal and newborn health services, an average of 27% overall reduction in maternal malnutrition status, an average of 14% overall improvement in under 5 years malnutrition status among others in 2013 on comparing with baseline indicators. Nigeria also attained 80% coverage in routine immunization in most vaccine preventable diseases except Tetanus Toxiod (TT) 2 (54%) in 2013 to achieve herd immunity of the community to prevent transmission of disease pathogen to cause a disease. Community Health Practitioners are the frontline Primary Health Care Professionals charged with the responsibility of implementation of immunization programmes in Nigeria and therefore contributing significantly to the prevention and control of targeted vaccine preventable diseases in Nigeria Health System. Our findings on factors militating against Community Health Practitioners’ Roles in National Development as elicited in this paper may form basis for empirical studies to determine the level of significance of each of these factors. In conclusion, it is when the Community Health parameters are adequately addressed that we can ensure sustainable National Development and we can say we have succeeded in our various strategic agenda of government at whatever level that makes up the complex whole. This brings to fore, the importance of the roles of Community Health Practitioners in health care delivery to National Development in the context of our country, Nigeria.

Extension for Community Health Outcomes-hepatitis C:Small steps carve big footprints in the allocation of scarce resources for hepatitis C virus treatment to remote developing areas

Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection is still a major health problem throughout the world.HCV patients living in rural areas are less fortunate than their counterparts residing in populous urbanized regions.The lack of medical resources and properly trained medical personnel in rural regions make it especially burdensome for HCV patients seeking treatment.Dr.Sanjeev Arora at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center took initiative to resolve the issue at hand by developing a model named Project Extension for Community Health Outcomes(ECHO).ECHO connects primary care providers(PCPs),usually family medicine physicians,in local communities with specialists.ECHO providers test the efficacy of treatment given using the ECHO model vs that at academic medical centers.The ECHO model has produced promising results such that the sustained virologic response rates for both types of sites were near-equivalent.Show Me ECHO was adapted from Project ECHO to train PCPs in Missouri and equip them with the tools and skills to properly treat and diagnose HCV in a timely manner.This healthcare model can be implemented for treating other common infections and chronic diseases.Telemedicine is the direction healthcare is headed for the next several decades.It has potential to be applied in developing countries to alleviate agony and despair resulting from limited resources and lack of access to expert medical care.

Advances in the Health Training Process Quality:Links between Education,Service and Community

This study proposes to discuss the experience lived by Pró-Saúde and PET-Saúde team of FACISA/ UFRN together with the Municipal Health Department of Santa Cruz/RN from a critical-reflexive perspective about the interaction between education, service and community as well as advances in approach and the strengthening between the school and Primary Health Care. This is an exploratory study with an experience report approach of the Pró-Saúde and PET-Saúde team from 2012 to 2014. The integration of these programs in experimental scenarios of the Unified Health System and the strengthening of the proposed training of human resources capable of the current healthcare system were observed. Thus, contributions in health in undergraduate courses and practices of health services are important, since the approach to the reality of the population and their social needs contribute to the vocational training quality.

Stigma and Discrimination against People Living with HIV and AIDS in Malawi

A study was conducted to explore stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV and AIDS who were on home based care in the Lilongwe district of Malawi. The study design was descriptive through sectional and utilized qualitative data collection and analysis method. Fifteen people living with HIV and AIDS, aged between 15 and 60 years were purposively sampled from three organizations, which were: Light House, National Association for people living with HIV and AIDS in Malawi and Lilongwe Diocese. Qualitative data were collected using an open ended interview guide during in-depth face to face interviews with the participants. The data were analysed using ATLAS. ti 5.0. Results show that all the participants were facing stigma and discrimination because they were living with HIV and AIDS. Distant relatives were the main source of stigma and discrimination followed by friends and church members. Most participants indicated that they felt they were discriminated because HIV infection is associated with bad behaviours such as prostitution or promiscuity. However some of them complained that they contracted the virus from their married partners and hence they did not deserve to be stigmatized or discriminated against. Results show that there is a need for creation of awareness among community members on the transmission of HIV and the need for home based care for the chronically ill people living with HIV and AIDS.

Neglected tropical diseases:exploring long term practical approaches to achieve sustainable disease elimination and beyond

Background:Remarkable progress has been made in the fight against neglected tropical diseases,but new challenges have emerged.Innovative diagnostics,better drugs and new insecticides are often identified as the priority;however,access to these new tools may not be sufficient to achieve and sustain disease elimination,if certain challenges and priorities are not considered.Main body:The authors summarise key operational challenges,and based on these,identify two major priorities:strengthening the capacity of the primary health care health system in correctly diagnosing and managing neglected tropical diseases;and establishing an effective disease surveillance process.Five steps are proposed as concrete actions to build an effective primary health care service for neglected tropical diseases,and a health management information system capable of accurately reporting these diseases.Community engagement and formalization of community health workers role are proposed as essential components of these steps.Shift of financial support from disease oriented programmes to disease integrated interventions,improved access to international guidelines for primary health care staff,and availability of donated drugs in health care structures are also suggested as key elements of the proposed process.Conclusion:The authors conclude that failure to address these priorities now may lead to further challenges on the long path towards neglected tropical disease elimination and beyond.