DSpace Collection:
http://hdl.handle.net/10884/1245
2024-03-29T08:48:43ZExploring the real costs of healthcare-associated infections: an international review
http://hdl.handle.net/10884/1442
Title: Exploring the real costs of healthcare-associated infections: an international review
Authors: Moura, João; Baylina, Pilar; Moreira, Joaquim Paulo
Abstract: Purpose: Healthcare-associated infections acquired a high degree of dissemination, being
considered a serious public health problem and assumed as one of the most common
adverse events associated with healthcare. They have a significant impact on health systems
by increasing hospital expenses, and compromising the healthcare quality and effectiveness.
Surgical site infections (SSI) are considered one of the most serious complications that can
occur after an orthopaedic surgery. The aim of this study is to contribute to the development
of a framework to analyse the costs of infections related to hip and knee arthroplasties.
Methods: A literature review was conducted on databases, and articles published between
January 2005 and April 2016 were searched.
Findings: A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. Costs were grouped in hospitalization
and treatment dimensions. For hospitalization, the indicators were the length of stay (LOS) and/
or monetary costs; For treatment, the indicators were number of surgeries and LOS, or monetary
costs. We observed that LOS is the most commonly used to estimate SSI direct costs. Patients
who developed hip or knee arthroplasty infections remained in hospital 2.5–3 times longer and
incurred hospital costs almost three times higher, when compared with an uninfected patient.2018-04-01T00:00:00ZSatisfying needs and expectations of terminal cancer patients: Organizational challenges to social workers
http://hdl.handle.net/10884/1441
Title: Satisfying needs and expectations of terminal cancer patients: Organizational challenges to social workers
Authors: Cortês, Alexandra Ramos; Moreira, J. Paulo; Ferreira, Jorge M. L.
Abstract: Despite medical and scientific advances, numerous
clinical essays, and research to fight cancer,
endless concerns associated with this pathology
continue to persist in the twenty-first century, with
a strong impact on individuals’ lives particularly at
the economic, social, emotional, relational, behavioural,
and spiritual levels. However, metamorphosing
this into reality still seems to be a distant event
because this pathology is still considered one of
the leading causes of death in different countries
worldwide, and Portugal is no exception. This
study aims to study the motivations expressed by
terminally ill cancer patients and their caregivers,
whose main diferences are characterized. The
results show that the clinical, social, spiritual, economic,
and emotional issues associated with the end
-of- life context are numerous, therefore patients
and their caregivers may have a number of circumstances
to face. The presentation of the patients’
and their caregivers’ needs, expression of motivations,
requests for social work, and emotions
experienced at the end of life are some of the core
features of the study. We show disparities between
patients and their caregivers, including different
motivations, needs, requests, and different manifestations
related to the place of death that constitute
a major challenge for social work in the context of
palliative care and care at the end of life. The
paper identifies a number of organizational issues
relevant to healthcare management contexts. Such
issues recognize the importance of integrating innovative
social work procedures and protocols into
internal medicine departments, planning hospital
discharges, making psychosocial and complicated
grief risk screening at patients’ admission, promoting
social work palliative care education and training
for hospital social workers, and the creation
and development of more hospital palliative care
teams in acute care hospitals. Also the relation
between cost and quality of healthcare seems to
place social workers in a very relevant healthcare
management position.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZOutbound medical tourists from China: An update on motivations, deterrents, and needs
http://hdl.handle.net/10884/1440
Title: Outbound medical tourists from China: An update on motivations, deterrents, and needs
Authors: Pan, Xiaoqing; Moreira, J. Paulo
Abstract: This is an exploratory study to identify Chinese perspectives on motivations, deterrents, and
needs of outbound medical tourists using qualitative methods. Data were collected from
participants through in-depth interviews. Research findings show there is varying urgency at
the preliminary motivation stage according to different types of medical tourism. The specific
motivations are advanced technology, unavailable or better quality Western medicine, wellregulated
and supervised market, and the quality of care. The deterrents include high cost,
risk to individual health, lack of information, absence of companion, and lack of time. The
corresponding needs are health insurance, clear information, and intermediary agency. The
implication of the findings for international healthcare management, travel patients, and
future research is also discussed. However, existing previous research mainly focus on
Westerners (the USA and Europe) and few studies have been undertaken in Asian or even
China. This is, therefore, a key contribution of this article as it generates knowledge about
China, which is a major market that has not yet been thoroughly studied. The research
findings serve as references for the planning and management of international healthcare
organizations focused on outbound patients from China.2018-01-01T00:00:00Z