The importance-performance analysis method (IPA) is used in market research in order to measure the level of customer satisfaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate and highlight the use of IPA as a management to...The importance-performance analysis method (IPA) is used in market research in order to measure the level of customer satisfaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate and highlight the use of IPA as a management tool to measure quality of dental services. We suggest that this method can be easily implemented in a dental educational setting, as a performance outcome measure that includes patient input. The study was conducted in a dental service through a valid questionnaire, SERVQUAL. This instrument explores levels of service quality perceived by patients. It was conducted in four companies in Brazil in 2011 (derived from different industry segments;two from textiles, one from hospital care and the other from the manufacturing industry) in two States (S?o Paulo and Minas Gerais). These companies were covered by the same dental managed care organization which contracted with independent dentists to provide care. The study was divided into two stages: the first, in which beneficiaries answered the questionnaire prior to receiving dental treatment, and the second when the same beneficiaries answered after completing their dental treatment. Data obtained from SERVQUAL generated graphs that were used to characterize the IPA matrix using several dimensions of care. The Assurance Dimension had the highest average in both expectation and perception. The Reliability dimension showed the value of the most negative GAP among the dimensions, and the best value occurred in the Responsiveness dimension. The IPA tool may be effective in Dental Medicine since it highlights the key points to be improved in the delivery of dental services in a clinical setting.展开更多
This work aims to determine the role of inequality in the provision of maternal health services among five regions in Mexico (northwest, northeast, central, the Mexico City-State of Mexico region and the south). We co...This work aims to determine the role of inequality in the provision of maternal health services among five regions in Mexico (northwest, northeast, central, the Mexico City-State of Mexico region and the south). We consider the most important service providers corresponding to the main health institutions in Mexico (IMSS, ISSSTE, SESAS, IMSS-Oportunidades). Therefore, a cross-sectional prospective study was conducted to analyze eight intervention packages (Prenatal Care, Syphilis, Influenza, Obstetric Urgent Care, HIV in pregnancy, delivery care, neonatal care and accessibility) offered by the Maternal and Perinatal Health (MPH) program. A quantitative analysis demonstrates low to marginal performance of the MPH program in three regions (South, Mexico City-State of Mexico and the Northwest) and marginal in two other regions (Central and Northeast). Furthermore, four of the intervention packages presented the lowest performance in the South (Prenatal Care, Syphilis, Influenza and Obstetric Urgent Care), as did the average of the total of the MPH packages. The performance of HIV in Pregnancy package was marginal in the Southern and Mexico City-State of Mexico regions and Neonatal Care was low in the Northwest. The assessment of the MPH intervention packages allows us to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This information allows us to identify similarities and differences among the geographical regions in order to describe and analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the current system and hence to improve the decision making regarding the Maternal and Perinatal Health Programs in Mexico. The results suggest that a homogenization has taken place in terms of the low quality of the services.展开更多
Objective: To evaluate the essential attribute of Primary Health Care, longitudinal care, care directed at children from birth to two years old. Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory study of evaluative chara...Objective: To evaluate the essential attribute of Primary Health Care, longitudinal care, care directed at children from birth to two years old. Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory study of evaluative character and quantitative approach, conducted with parents/caregivers of 186 children, younger than two years old, patients of primary health care services in the city of Santa Cruz/RN, Brazil. For data collection, the instrument Primary Care Assessment Tools (PCA Tools) was used, and the results of the questions dealing with longitudinal attribute were evaluated. The data were stored and processed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Health Sciences School of Trairí, under number 348896. Results: The mean age of children in months was 8.21;84.4% (n = 157) were assisted by the same doctor/nurse every time;in 81.7% (n = 152) of cases the doctor/nurse know the full medical history of the child;73.7% (n = 137) answered that the professional know their child more as a person than just as someone with a health problem;48.9% (n = 91) stated that the doctor/nurse do not know their family very well;86.6% (n = 161) reported finding the doctor/nurse understands what is saying or questioning;96.2 (n = 179) of respondents said the doctor/nurse answers the questions so that they understand;96.2% (n = 179) of the interviewed said they feel comfortable telling the concerns or problems of their child to the doctor/nurse;66.7% (n = 124) claimed that they would not change the service/doctor/nurse to another health service. Conclusion: It is concluded that the attribute was well rated by the mothers of children seen in primary health care services and that they can establish good communication and relationship with the health professionals who treat their children.展开更多
HIV/AIDS has brought to light the challenge of incorporating the many influences between living conditions, social characteristics and health services performance to an adequate care for PLWHA (people living with AID...HIV/AIDS has brought to light the challenge of incorporating the many influences between living conditions, social characteristics and health services performance to an adequate care for PLWHA (people living with AIDS). Vulnerability of these populations is under the responsibility of specialized care units whose assistance does not always occur according to their real needs and demands. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze demographic, social and clinical profiles of PLWHA, as well as their follow-up in SS (Specialized Health Services) in Ribeir^o Preto, Brazil. It is a descriptive study conducted by the application of structured questionnaires to 253 patients with HIV/AIDS in follow-up during the years of 2012-2013. Variables were analyzed by descriptive statistics procedures. The findings pointed out gender parity, aging population, low education and economic predominance of class C. Regarding clinical characteristics, there was a predominance of asymptomatic individuals, with no clinical manifestations of AIDS or major comorbidities. The main mode of transmission was through sexual contact. The results led to the need of adequating the assistance provided to the specificities inherent to PLWHA. The care provision should cross an interdisciplinary perspective, targeting recognition of problems and ensuring comprehensive health care adequate to users' needs and demands.展开更多
文摘The importance-performance analysis method (IPA) is used in market research in order to measure the level of customer satisfaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate and highlight the use of IPA as a management tool to measure quality of dental services. We suggest that this method can be easily implemented in a dental educational setting, as a performance outcome measure that includes patient input. The study was conducted in a dental service through a valid questionnaire, SERVQUAL. This instrument explores levels of service quality perceived by patients. It was conducted in four companies in Brazil in 2011 (derived from different industry segments;two from textiles, one from hospital care and the other from the manufacturing industry) in two States (S?o Paulo and Minas Gerais). These companies were covered by the same dental managed care organization which contracted with independent dentists to provide care. The study was divided into two stages: the first, in which beneficiaries answered the questionnaire prior to receiving dental treatment, and the second when the same beneficiaries answered after completing their dental treatment. Data obtained from SERVQUAL generated graphs that were used to characterize the IPA matrix using several dimensions of care. The Assurance Dimension had the highest average in both expectation and perception. The Reliability dimension showed the value of the most negative GAP among the dimensions, and the best value occurred in the Responsiveness dimension. The IPA tool may be effective in Dental Medicine since it highlights the key points to be improved in the delivery of dental services in a clinical setting.
文摘This work aims to determine the role of inequality in the provision of maternal health services among five regions in Mexico (northwest, northeast, central, the Mexico City-State of Mexico region and the south). We consider the most important service providers corresponding to the main health institutions in Mexico (IMSS, ISSSTE, SESAS, IMSS-Oportunidades). Therefore, a cross-sectional prospective study was conducted to analyze eight intervention packages (Prenatal Care, Syphilis, Influenza, Obstetric Urgent Care, HIV in pregnancy, delivery care, neonatal care and accessibility) offered by the Maternal and Perinatal Health (MPH) program. A quantitative analysis demonstrates low to marginal performance of the MPH program in three regions (South, Mexico City-State of Mexico and the Northwest) and marginal in two other regions (Central and Northeast). Furthermore, four of the intervention packages presented the lowest performance in the South (Prenatal Care, Syphilis, Influenza and Obstetric Urgent Care), as did the average of the total of the MPH packages. The performance of HIV in Pregnancy package was marginal in the Southern and Mexico City-State of Mexico regions and Neonatal Care was low in the Northwest. The assessment of the MPH intervention packages allows us to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This information allows us to identify similarities and differences among the geographical regions in order to describe and analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the current system and hence to improve the decision making regarding the Maternal and Perinatal Health Programs in Mexico. The results suggest that a homogenization has taken place in terms of the low quality of the services.
文摘Objective: To evaluate the essential attribute of Primary Health Care, longitudinal care, care directed at children from birth to two years old. Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory study of evaluative character and quantitative approach, conducted with parents/caregivers of 186 children, younger than two years old, patients of primary health care services in the city of Santa Cruz/RN, Brazil. For data collection, the instrument Primary Care Assessment Tools (PCA Tools) was used, and the results of the questions dealing with longitudinal attribute were evaluated. The data were stored and processed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Health Sciences School of Trairí, under number 348896. Results: The mean age of children in months was 8.21;84.4% (n = 157) were assisted by the same doctor/nurse every time;in 81.7% (n = 152) of cases the doctor/nurse know the full medical history of the child;73.7% (n = 137) answered that the professional know their child more as a person than just as someone with a health problem;48.9% (n = 91) stated that the doctor/nurse do not know their family very well;86.6% (n = 161) reported finding the doctor/nurse understands what is saying or questioning;96.2 (n = 179) of respondents said the doctor/nurse answers the questions so that they understand;96.2% (n = 179) of the interviewed said they feel comfortable telling the concerns or problems of their child to the doctor/nurse;66.7% (n = 124) claimed that they would not change the service/doctor/nurse to another health service. Conclusion: It is concluded that the attribute was well rated by the mothers of children seen in primary health care services and that they can establish good communication and relationship with the health professionals who treat their children.
文摘HIV/AIDS has brought to light the challenge of incorporating the many influences between living conditions, social characteristics and health services performance to an adequate care for PLWHA (people living with AIDS). Vulnerability of these populations is under the responsibility of specialized care units whose assistance does not always occur according to their real needs and demands. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze demographic, social and clinical profiles of PLWHA, as well as their follow-up in SS (Specialized Health Services) in Ribeir^o Preto, Brazil. It is a descriptive study conducted by the application of structured questionnaires to 253 patients with HIV/AIDS in follow-up during the years of 2012-2013. Variables were analyzed by descriptive statistics procedures. The findings pointed out gender parity, aging population, low education and economic predominance of class C. Regarding clinical characteristics, there was a predominance of asymptomatic individuals, with no clinical manifestations of AIDS or major comorbidities. The main mode of transmission was through sexual contact. The results led to the need of adequating the assistance provided to the specificities inherent to PLWHA. The care provision should cross an interdisciplinary perspective, targeting recognition of problems and ensuring comprehensive health care adequate to users' needs and demands.