Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Management (ACHSM)
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Opportunities and Challenges for ICT-based Entrepreneurship in India: Special reference to Indian healthcare industry
No full textObjective: This study investigates the potential of technology entrepreneurship to address critical challenges within the Indian healthcare landscape. Leveraging existing literature, we develop a novel theoretical framework examining how patients, medical professionals, and the healthcare industry interact with three key elements of technology entrepreneurship: technology innovation, technology proactivity, and technology risk-taking. Analysing these interactions across three tiers – patients, medical professionals, and the industry itself – reveals practical implications for fostering positive change.
Design / Methodology: The authors have conducted an extensive review of literature focusing on technological growth in the healthcare industry and its effect on entrepreneurship development in this area. The review is primarily focused on developments in the last two decades. Consequently, the authors have proposed a framework for technology entrepreneurship development (i.e., technological innovation, technological proactivity, and technological risk-taking), which is the foundation of value creation. This concept will be dealt with at three levels, namely, patients, medical professionals and hospitals, and the entire healthcare industry.
Results: Many researchers have identified that innovation, proactivity, and risk-taking are the key characteristics of the entrepreneurial journey. Each of these characteristics (innovation, proactivity, and risk-taking) has been explained with supporting examples from the healthcare industry. The paper's practical implications can be separated into three categories: those for patients (support for patients and technology-based engagement techniques), organizations (digital health solutions and collaborative motivation), and the healthcare industry (infrastructure and trust building).
Conclusion: The paper has outlined the challenges and opportunities for technology entrepreneurs at three levels, namely, patients, medical professionals and hospitals, and the entire industry. Prospects for research in the near future have been also identified
A Review of the Nigerian National Health Policy on Injection Safety and Healthcare Waste Management
No full textBackground: Exposure to healthcare wastes increases the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections. Nigeria previously lacked an enabling environment for healthcare waste management, as it did not have a national healthcare waste management policy. Thus, the National policy on injection safety and healthcare waste management in Nigeria was developed to ensure infectious diseases being transmitted through unsterile injections, and improper healthcare waste are eradicated or minimized to the lowest minimum.
Aim: This study is aimed at reviewing the level of implementation and challenges of the Nigerian National Policy on injection safety and healthcare waste management.
Methodology: This review focused on the policy document, its implementation, successes and challenges.
Results: The areas of focus of the policy are communication and behavioral change, healthcare waste management, logistics, management (human resource development) as well as monitoring and evaluation. Implementation of this policy cut across the tiers of government, public institutions in addition to private stakeholders. The policy has been able to achieve training of healthcare workers on safe injection and behavioural change, better waste management practice, advocacy programs, development of guidelines for injection and healthcare waste management practices, construction and installation of waste facilities and mobilization of resources.
Conclusion: In spite of the achievements of the policy, inadequate training, ineffective legislature and absence of data were challenges facing this policy implementation despite the resources allocated to its implementation. Moreover, stated guidelines were not strictly followed and adhered to in all healthcare facilities. For the efficient and productive implementation of the policy, there should be continuous training of health workers, enforcement of guidelines and procedures, proper data collection and provision of necessary consumables
Exploring COVID-19's Impact on Mental Health in the Workplace: A bibliometric analysis
No full textThe objective of this paper is to examine important research areas and emerging development trends while highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with them. This is accomplished through a methodical examination of publications pertaining to the mental well-being of employees during COVID-19. The authors analyzed 177 articles and contributions from the Scopus database that were listed by the Australian Business Dean Council (ABDC) using the bibliometric tool VOS viewer. According to the data, there have been increasing trends in the study of mental health and its effects during COVID-19, and psychology and human resource management are also seeing an increase in the study of mental health. The authors who have been referred the most are “Chawla N.,” “Mccarthy J.M.”, “Trougakos J.P.” and “Li J”. The “journal American Psychologist” has published a significant amount of research in psychology field and “International Journal of Hospitality Management” has maximum publications in Human resource management field. Using efficient bibliometric techniques, the authors give readers a thorough grasp of the research topic, which will be helpful to anybody interested in the field, particularly newcomers. They advise that future studies concentrate on creating hybrid models to forecast trends in particular fields of psychology and human resource management, which is a new field of study
Organizational Justice as a Predictor of Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Employee Engagement in the Healthcare Sector: A conceptual study
No full textThe healthcare sector framework highlights the importance of organizational justice in shaping employee attitudes and behaviors within healthcare settings. It emphasizes that perceptions of fairness—encompassing distributive, procedural, and interactional justice—are crucial for fostering (OCB) and enhancing employee engagement, ultimately impacting the quality of patient care and organizational effectiveness. This research aims to examine the impact of organizational justice on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and employee engagement among healthcare professionals. The study emphasizes the critical role that perceptions of fairness play in enhancing employee morale and productivity within healthcare settings.
The study utilizes a comprehensive literature review to analyze existing theories and empirical findings related to organizational justice, OCB, and employee engagement. It synthesizes insights from various studies to develop a theoretical framework that illustrates the relationships between these constructs. Specifically, when healthcare employees feel that they are treated fairly with respect to resource distribution, decision-making processes, and interpersonal interactions, they are more likely to exhibit behaviors that support their organization and engage actively in their roles.
The research concludes that fostering a culture of organizational justice is essential for promoting OCB and enhancing employee engagement in healthcare environments. Its originality lies in its focus on the healthcare sector, providing a unique perspective on how justice perceptions can drive positive organizational outcomes. This study lays the groundwork for future empirical research to validate these proposed relationships in practical settings, especially within the healthcare sector, and the dedication and willingness of employees are vital for success
Public Perceptions and Utilization of Community Pharmacies And Pharmacists: A qualitative study in Indonesia
No full textBackground: Pharmacists in community pharmacies are essential healthcare providers, offering high-quality and affordable drug services. However, in some countries and notably in Indonesia, they are often wrongly perceived as drug dispensers. This misconception is fueled by a low pharmacist-to-population ratio, limited counselling, and infrequent interactions with pharmacists. Understanding these perceptions is crucial for enhancing pharmacy services and ensuring communities can access quality and affordable healthcare.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and perceptions of individuals regarding pharmacists and the utilization of community pharmacies in Semarang and Palembang, Indonesia.
Methods: Qualitative phenomenological research was conducted using in-depth interviews. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling from Semarang and Palembang Cities from October through December 2021. The inclusion criteria: aged >18 years, having visited a community pharmacy within the last 6 months, and possessing good communication skills. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using a deductive approach guided by the KAP framework.
Results: We included 22 participants in this study. Most participants recognized community pharmacies as drug shops and considered pharmacists as regular employees rather than healthcare professionals. Only a few participants had received counselling from pharmacists. Participants frequently purchased Over the Counter (OTC) medications such as analgesics and antipyretics from community pharmacies. Occasionally, they also bought antibiotics, antihypertensive, and other drugs. There are several factors that participants took into account when visiting community pharmacies such as accessibility, drug availability, and drug quality.
Conclusion: Pharmacists must lead patient-centred care initiatives to address public health disparities and solidify their indispensable role within healthcare systems
The Prevalence and Factors Affecting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Amongst Healthcare Professionals in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Narrative Literature Review
No full textBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a multitude of challenges for the healthcare fraternity which contributed to fatigue, burnout, stress, despair, anxiety, and psychological distress among healthcare professionals leading to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This narrative review aims to determine the incidence of PTSD among healthcare professionals in India, identify its causes, and propose strategies to address this issue.
Methods: A comprehensive search of published and grey literature was conducted using search engines, followed by the identification of relevant articles and a narrative synthesis of the gathered materials.
Results: The review reveals that healthcare professionals experienced significantly high levels of stress and were more likely to exhibit symptoms of probable or confirmed PTSD. Many healthcare professionals emphasized the urgent need for frequent counselling sessions during the pandemic.
Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the importance of developing targeted educational interventions that include counselling services and treatment plans involving psychiatrists specifically focused on at-risk healthcare professionals.
Efforts Implemented for Developing Health Management Workforce in the Asia Pacific: A scoping review
No full textBackground and objective: A strong and effective health management workforce (HMW) is essential to underpin the comprehensive health care services provided by health care organizations. The fast-growing nature of healthcare systems suggests the required competencies for HMW continue to evolve. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and confirm the key strategies that have been used in developing the health management workforce in the Asia Pacific region.
Materials and Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted between May and August 2022 using the following databases: Medline, Ovid Emcare, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science, to retrieve original research articles demonstrating development efforts for HMW in the Asia Pacific regions. The review was guided by the PRISMA-ScR (2018) checklist [23].
Results: The scoping review identified four different development strategies for HMW in Asia Pacific region: i) Organisational informal professional development programs, ii) Competency assessment and identification of gaps in knowledge and skills of HMW, iii) Confirming competencies and developing competency framework and iv) Formal education and training. Among these four development strategies, organisational informal professional development programs and competency assessment and the identification of gaps in knowledge and skills of HMW were the main strategies implemented for HMW in the Asia Pacific region.
Conclusion: The review concluded that the existing development strategies and efforts for HMW are not evenly implemented within the Asia Pacific region. Political will and policy direction are important and plays a vital role in the competency development of HMW. It is also critical to provide multilevel commitment from system and organisational level together with identifying and addressing the bottlenecks in the development strategies by considering organisation types, management levels and positions, practical training methods, motivation of participants, and other contextual factors
Understanding Patient Flow from the Perspectives of Patient Movement Experts
No full textBackground: Poor patient flow or patient movement through a healthcare organisation can lead to adverse outcomes for patients and organisational inefficiency. Many hospitals have addressed suboptimal patient flow by increasing resources, such as bed stock and staffing; however, this is an unsustainable approach. In determining the nature of poor patient flow issues, it is important to collect data from healthcare professionals who manage patient flow daily. Doing so provides insights into the current state of patient flow management in its entirety, whilst also helping with the development of sustainable solutions.
Methods: Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals who were directly involved with patient flow at a referring hospital in Tasmania, Australia.
Results: Using a thematic analysis method, four major themes were developed. The first major theme was: ‘managing patient flow’ which centered around known and unknown demands on bed availability. The second theme, ‘communication for decisions’, highlighted the essential role of communication in maintaining patient flow. The third theme, ‘tools as enablers and barriers, relates to the number of software programs which can both help and hinder patient flow. The final theme of ‘increasing complexity’ is related to an apparent trend towards greater numbers of patients requiring care of an increasingly specialised nature.
Conclusions: The findings of this study provide great insights into patient flow issues, with potential solutions identified to address them
A Study on the Association between Poverty, Demographics, Family Support, and Cancer Care in Jharkhand, India: - SHAPE Health Conference In Hong Kong 8-9 July 2024
No full textObjective: The complex relationship between cancer care and poverty was examined in this study. This study identified the associations of various demographic factors with cancer care. The study also analyzes the family's role and support network in cancer care.
Methodology: This study employed a mixed-method approach to understand cancer care in Jharkhand, India, comprehensively. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey with 204 reproductive cancer patients. The structured interview schedule covered the socio-demographic variables and cancer care facilities. The study also used case study methods with three eligible adults who underwent or are currently receiving cancer treatment. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the study findings. The narratives of each case study provide a comprehensive understanding of each patient's journey to cancer care. The study received ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Cancer Hospital.
Results: The survey results show that 47 percent of the respondents access the treatment. Only 12.7 percent of the respondents had taken the HPV vaccine, and 44.6 percent had received physiotherapy during the treatment. Forty-four percent of the respondents accessed counseling services from health service providers. The respondents' characteristics, such as age and gender, were strongly associated with access to counseling services. Education and family income were statistically associated with access to cancer care treatment. Only 7.4 percent of respondents arranged transport for treatment, and 11.8 percent arranged logistics and various treatment therapies for cancer care. Cancer patients from Jharkhand frequently face discrimination in receiving health care because of their economic condition. The case study revealed differences in wealth, social class and family role in cancer care. As a result, cancer patients often feel hopeless and isolated, leading to depression and anxiety.
Conclusion and Implications: Poverty plays a negative role in providing and accessing cancer care in the state of Jharkhand. The role of family and society is essential for cancer survival. Psychological support from the family gives hope to the life of cancer patients. To address the complex relationship between financial burden and cancer care, both government agencies and social structures must implement comprehensive strategies
A Tribute to and in Memory - Dr David Briggs AM (1948-2024): - Editor-in-Chief of Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management 2007 to 2022
No full textDr. David Briggs served as the Editor-in-Chief for the APJHM for 15 years and was responsible for the formation, development and steering the professional growth and impact of this publication. David was appointed by the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) in the second year of the journal’s establishment which was introduced as the College’s own applied, peer reviewed journal aimed at communicating the development and practice of the field of health management within the Asia Pacific region.....