RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Severe weather events exacerbate existing health disparities due to poorly managed non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Our objective is to understand the experiences of staff, providers, and administrators (employees) of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) in providing care to patients living with NCDs in the setting of recent climate-related extreme events. METHODS: We used a convergent mixed-methods study design. A quantitative survey was distributed to employees at 2 FQHCs in Puerto Rico and the USVI, assessing experience with disasters, knowledge of disaster preparedness, the relevance of NCDs, and perceived gaps. Qualitative in-depth interviews explored their experience providing care for NCDs during recent disasters. Quantitative and qualitative data were merged using a narrative approach. RESULTS: Through the integration of quantitative and qualitative data, we recognize: (1) significant gaps in confidence and preparedness of employees with a need for more training; (2) challenges faced by persons with multiple NCDs, especially cardiovascular and mental health disorders; and (3) most clinicians do not discuss disaster preparedness with patients but recognize their important role in community resilience. CONCLUSION: With these results, we recommend strengthening the capacity of FQHCs to address the needs of their patients with NCDs in disasters.
Assuntos
Pesquisa Qualitativa , Humanos , Porto Rico , Inquéritos e Questionários , Masculino , Feminino , Estados Unidos , Adulto , Defesa Civil/métodos , Defesa Civil/estatística & dados numéricos , Defesa Civil/normas , Ilhas Virgens Americanas , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Planejamento em Desastres/métodos , Planejamento em Desastres/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Classification: Research paper. Purpose: Haitian provincial prisons historically were strapped to provide directly observed therapy (DOT) for persons with TB (PwTB) due to healthcare understaffing. A non-governmental organization addressed this gap via correctional officer-administered video DOT (VDOT). Approach: A 16-month, quasi-experimental trial of officer-facilitated VDOT started in March 2019 at four prisons. Officers delivered doses directly without video when VDOT was inaccessible. Healthcare staff remotely tracked VDOT adherence asynchronously. Three fully-staffed prisons were controls. Our primary objective was to measure VDOT effectiveness for PwTB who began VDOT within 2 weeks of starting treatment. Our secondary objective was to measure program reach, implementation and maintenance through July 2023. Findings: Reach-55 PwTB on VDOT met study criteria. Effectiveness: median/mean VDOT adherence for 55 individuals enrolled in the pilot were 70.8% and 60.2% respectively. Median/mean total adherence, including doses delivered by officers, were 100% and 93.5%. Implementation: VDOT adherence varied by site but not demographic characteristics; similarity of adherence patterns between subjects within a facility was high. Nursing staff reported that adherence in controls was 100%. Correctional officers reported high comfort with the program technology. Maintenance: Since the pilot, 387 PwTB have received TB medications via VDOT in the Haitian prison system. Originality: VDOT for PwTB in low-resource Haitian prisons enabled close monitoring and follow-up; it could expand treatment options elsewhere. Total adherence neared that in control prisons. VDOT adherence varied by treatment day predominately in a group pattern, reflecting facility-level, rather than individual-level, factors.