1. |
- Burstrom, K., et al.
(author)
-
Experience-Based Swedish TTO and VAS Value Sets for EQ-5D-5L Health States
- 2020
-
In: Pharmacoeconomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1170-7690 .- 1179-2027. ; 38, s. 839-856
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and Objective Although value sets for the five-level version of the generic health-related quality-of-life instrument EQ-5D are emerging, there is still no value set available in the literature based on time trade-off valuations made by individuals experiencing the valued health states. The aim of this study was to estimate experience-based value sets for the EQ-5D-5L for Sweden using time trade-off and visual analogue scale valuation methods. Methods In a large, cross-sectional, population-based, self-administered postal health survey, the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system, EQ visual analogue scale and a time trade-off question were included. Time trade-off and visual analogue scale valuations of the respondent's current health status were used in statistical modelling to estimate a single-index value of health for each of the 3125 health states. Ordinary least-squares and generalised linear models were estimated with the main effect within each of the five dimensions represented by 20 dummy variables reflecting the additional decrement in value for levels 2-5 when the severity increases by one level sequentially beginning from having no problem. Interaction variables representing the occurrence of severity levels in at least one of the dimensions were tested: severity level 2 or worse (N2); severity level 3 or worse (N3); severity level 4 or worse (N4); severity level 5 (N5). Results A total of 896 health states (28.7% of the 3125 possible EQ-5D-5L health states) were reported by the 25,867 respondents. Visual analogue scale (n = 23,899) and time trade-off (n = 13,381) responders reported valuations of their currently experienced health state. The preferred regression models used ordinary least-squares estimation for both time trade-off and visual analogue scale values and showed consistency in all coefficients after combining certain levels. Levels 4 and 5 for the dimensions of mobility, self-care and usual activities were combined in the time trade-off model. Including the interaction variable N5, indicating severity level 5 in at least one of the five dimensions, made it possible to distinguish between the two worst severity levels where no other dimension is at level 5 as this coefficient is applied only once. In the visual analogue scale regression model, levels 4 and 5 of the mobility dimension were combined. The interaction variables N2-N4 were included, indicating that each of these terms reflect a statistically significant decrement in visual analogue scale value if any of the dimensions is at severity level 2, 3 or 4, respectively. Conclusions Time trade-off and visual analogue scale value sets for the EQ-5D-5L are now available for Sweden. The time trade-off value set is the first such value set based on experience-based time trade-off valuation. For decision makers with a preference for experience-based valuations of health states from a representative population-based sample, the reported value sets may be considered fit for purpose to support resource allocation decision as well as evaluating population health and healthcare performance.
|
|
2. |
- Asuman, Derek, et al.
(author)
-
Labour market consequences of an early-onset disability : the case of cerebral palsy
- 2024
-
In: Applied Economics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0003-6846 .- 1466-4283. ; 56:11, s. 1309-1326
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The labour market consequences of early-onset or congenital disabilities have received little attention in the literature. In this paper, we study the consequences of cerebral palsy (CP), a lifelong early onset disability, and pathways through which it affects labour outcomes. We use data from multiple linked Swedish National Population Registers between 1990 and 2015 and apply both regression and mediation analysis. Our results show, as expected, strong negative consequences of CP on labour outcomes, and that the consequences have increased over time. The social insurance system, we find, compensates for some of the losses through non-work-related benefits. The results also suggest that the direct effects of CP per se have prominent impact on labour market outcomes. Thus, given the same level of mediators, persons with CP will have lower labour outcomes compared to persons without CP. Our results draw attention to the widening labour market consequences of CP in Sweden.
|
|
3. |
- Asuman, Derek, et al.
(author)
-
Pain and labor outcomes : A longitudinal study of adults with cerebral palsy in Sweden
- 2023
-
In: Disability and Health Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 1936-6574 .- 1876-7583. ; 16:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Pain is a global health concern with substantial societal costs and limits the activity participation of individuals. The prevalence of pain is estimated to be high among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP).Objectives: To estimate the association between pain and labor outcomes for adults with CP in Sweden.Methods: A longitudinal cohort study based on data from Swedish population-based administrative registers of 6899 individuals (53,657 person-years) with CP aged 20-64 years. Individual fixed effects regression models were used to analyze the association between pain and labor outcomes (employment and earnings from employment), as well as potential pathways through which pain might affect employment and earnings.Results: Pain was associated with adverse outcomes varying across severity, corresponding to a reduction of 7-12% in employment and 2-8% in earnings if employed. Pain might affect employment and earnings through increased likelihood of both sickness leave and early retirement.Conclusion: Pain management could potentially be important to improve labor outcomes for adults with CP, in addition to improving the quality of life.& COPY; 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
|
|
4. |
- Burger, Ronelle, et al.
(author)
-
Use of simulated patients to assess hypertension case management at public healthcare facilities in South Africa
- 2020
-
In: Journal of Hypertension. - 1473-5598. ; 38:2, s. 362-367
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Our study aims to evaluate hypertensive case management in South Africa's public health sector using simulated patients.METHOD: Our study describes interactions between hypertensive simulated patients and primary healthcare workers at 39 public sector healthcare facilities in two metropolitan centres in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa. Our analysis focus on 97 interactions where our eight simulated patients tested within range for stage 1 hypertension, that is with SBP 140-159 mmHg and/or DBP 90-99 mmHg. For this subset, we describe how healthcare workers communicated the outcome of the blood pressure test, and whether they follow government guidelines on risk assessment and lifestyle advice.RESULTS: Healthcare workers highlighted the risks associated with hypertension in one out of three cases and stressed the importance of regular monitoring of blood pressure in less than half of cases. Hypertensive patients received advice on all six lifestyle risk factors in 8% of cases. 39% of patients received no lifestyle advice at all. In one out of four cases, hypertensive patients left the facility without a hypertension diagnosis and with no prospect of a follow-up visit.CONCLUSION: Simulated patients can assess the quality of hypertension case management, yielding granular and comprehensive information that can help mobilize resources to improve care. The management of hypertension patients in South African public healthcare facilities is critically insufficient. Given that hypertension is responsible for a rising share of deaths in South Africa and many of these deaths are preventable, urgent intervention is needed.
|
|
5. |
- Dackehag, Margareta, et al.
(author)
-
Macroeconomic fluctuations and individual use of psychotropic medications : evidence from Swedish administrative data
- 2023
-
In: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 33:1, s. 93-98
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A growing literature finds that adult mental health worsens during economic downturns. Current insights on the relationship between macroeconomic fluctuations and psychotropic medication are based on self-reported information or aggregate measures on prescriptions. This study assesses the relationship between local macroeconomic conditions and individual use of psychotropic medication as reported in administrative registers. METHODS : We use local information on unemployment linked to individual-level longitudinal data on detailed psychotropic drug consumption from administrative registers, for individuals in working age (20-65) in Sweden 2006-13. Any psychotropic medication uptake and the related number of redeemed prescriptions are the primary outcomes. Mortality is considered a secondary outcome. RESULTS : Among young men (aged 20-44) and older women (aged 45-65), we find reduced use of psychotropic medication (2-4% compared to the mean) when the local labor market conditions deteriorate. The relationship is driven by reduced use of antidepressants. The same age-gender groups experience a significantly higher risk of mortality in bad times. CONCLUSIONS : This study shows that economic downturns may not only put strain on individuals' mental health but also on their access to psychopharmaceutic treatments.
|
|
6. |
- Fischer, M., et al.
(author)
-
Education and health: long-run effects of peers, tracking and years
- 2021
-
In: Economic Policy. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0266-4658 .- 1468-0327. ; 36:105, s. 3-49
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigate two parallel school reforms in Sweden to assess the long-run health effects of education. One reform only increased years of schooling, while the other increased years of schooling but also removed tracking leading to a more mixed socioeconomic peer group. By differencing the effects of the parallel reforms we separate the effect of de-tracking and peers from that of more schooling. We find that the pure years of schooling reform reduced mortality and improved current health. Differencing the effects of the reforms shows significant differences in the estimated impacts, suggesting that de-tracking and subsequent peer effects resulted in worse health.
|
|
7. |
- Gerdtham, Ulf-G., et al.
(author)
-
Trait self-control, exercise and exercise ambition : Evidence from a healthy, adult population
- 2020
-
In: Psychology, Health & Medicine. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1354-8506 .- 1465-3966. ; 25:5, s. 583-592
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explores if self-control predicts exercise ambition and actual exercise, and if exercise ambition predicts actual exercise. Members and guests at a not-for-profit sports club were invited to participate. 264 individuals completed a self-reported (Self-Control Scale) measure of self-control, and responded to questions about actual exercise as well as exercise ambition prior to their workout. Main Outcome Measures are exercise ambition, actual exercise, and the difference between them. We find that trait self-control predicts both actual exercise and exercise ambition. Exercise ambition also predicts actual exercise. The results suggest a path from self-control, via exercise ambition, to actual exercise. Individuals with relatively low self-control might benefit from some aid in setting goals for their workouts and committing to exercise.
|
|
8. |
- Hardardottir, Hjördis, et al.
(author)
-
Parameterizing standard measures of income and health inequality using choice experiments
- 2021
-
In: Health Economics. - : Wiley. - 1099-1050 .- 1057-9230. ; 30:10, s. 2531-2546
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- When measuring inequality using conventional inequality measures, ethical assumptions about distributional preferences are often implicitly made. In this paper, we ask whether the ethical assumptions underlying the concentration index for income-related health inequality and the Gini index for income inequality are supported in a representative sample of the Swedish population using an internet-based survey. We find that the median subject has preferences regarding income-related health inequality that are in line with the ethical assumptions implied by the concentration index, but put higher weight on the poor than what is implied by the Gini index of income inequality. We find that women and individuals with a poorer health status put higher weight on the poor than men and healthier individuals. Ethically flexible inequality measures, such as the s-Gini index and the extended concentration index, imply that researchers have to choose from a toolbox of infinitely many inequality indices. The results of this paper are indicative of which indices (i.e. which parameter values) reflect the views of the population regarding how inequality should be defined.
|
|
9. |
- Heckley, Gawain, et al.
(author)
-
The health returns of attending university for the marginally eligible student
- 2022
-
In: Health Economics. - : Wiley. - 1099-1050 .- 1057-9230. ; 31:5, s. 877-903
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A key policy question is whether continued expansion of university education is beneficial for the marginally eligible student. In this paper we exploit an arbitrary university eligibility rule combined with regression discontinuity design to estimate the causal effect of university attendance on healthcare utilization amongst young adults in Sweden. We find that the eligibility rule leads to a clear jump in university attendance of between 10% and 14% points for both males and females. 2SLS estimates find that a 10% point increase in university attendance causes a roughly one percentage point increase in hospital admissions due to mental ill health for males, almost exclusively related to alcohol and narcotics. Our findings for females, however, imply the opposite, suggesting that university attendance decreases hospital admissions related to mental health. The results for males sit in contrast to results from previous studies, and suggest that the effect of university education on health for the male student at the margin of eligibility is different to that of the average student.
|
|
10. |
- Hompashe, Dumisani MacDonald, et al.
(author)
-
The nurse did not even greet me' : How informed versus non-informed patients evaluate health systems responsiveness in South Africa
- 2021
-
In: BMJ Global Health. - : BMJ. - 2059-7908. ; 6:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Universal Health Coverage is not only about access to health services but also about access to high-quality care, since poor experiences may deter patients from accessing care. Evidence shows that quality of care drives health outcomes, yet little is known about non-clinical dimensions of care, and patients' experience thereof relative to satisfaction with visits. This paper investigates the role of non-clinical dimensions of care in patient satisfaction.METHODS: Our study describes the interactions of informed and non-informed patients with primary healthcare workers at 39 public healthcare facilities in two metropolitan centres in two South African provinces. Our analysis included 1357 interactions using standardised patients (for informed patients) and patients' exit interviews (for non-informed patients). The data were combined for three types of visits: contraception, hypertension and tuberculosis. We describe how satisfaction with care was related to patients' experiences of non-clinical dimensions.RESULTS: We show that when real patients (RPs) reported being satisfied (vs dissatisfied) with a visit, it was associated with a 30% increase in the probability that a patient is greeted at the facilities. Likewise, when the RPs reported being satisfied (vs dissatisfied) with the visit, it was correlated with a 15% increase in the prospect that patients are pleased with healthcare workers' explanations of health conditions.CONCLUSION: Informed patients are better equipped to assess health-systems responsiveness in healthcare provision. Insights into responsiveness could guide broader efforts aimed at targeted education and empowerment of primary healthcare users to strengthen health systems and shape expectations for appropriate care and conduct.
|
|