Gesundheitsökonomische Aspekte der Corona-Krise in der Schweiz: Resultate des COVID-19 Social Monitor

Höglinger, Marc; Brunner, Beatrice; Stucki, Michael; Wieser, Simon

doi:10.1055/a-1287-2546

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Since there was no longer a formal treatment ban in Switzerland, these reductions can probably be attributed to a reaction of the hospitals to the pandemic situation (higher needs for intensive care units [ 4 ], staff shortages due to covid-infections) and to changes in patients’ demand for health services. Based on Swiss survey data, Höglinger et al [ 5 ] found that both during and after the lockdown, numerous patients voluntarily refrained from seeking "planned or necessary" medical treatments "because of Corona". Similarly, a reduction in costs and consultations during the spring lockdown was observed in the Swiss outpatient sector [ 25 , 53 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on inpatient health care in Switzerland 2020–2021—A descriptive retrospective study using admission data of all Swiss hospitals

Wirth,

Stucki,

Joerg

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Background As part of the Covid-19-restrictions in Switzerland, a federal ban on non-urgent examinations and treatments was applied to all hospitals during six weeks in spring 2020 (“spring lockdown”). The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on Swiss inpatient admissions based on data of all hospitals, focusing on selected procedures of different medical urgency. Methods The study includes all acute care inpatient cases (including Covid-19 cases, excluding cases in psychiatry and rehabilitation) according to the Swiss Medical Statistics of Hospitals. Besides the total number of admissions, subdivided by regions, hospital types and age groups, we focused on selected procedures representing different medical urgency: elective surgeries, cancer surgeries, and emergencies. Procedures were selected based on expert interviews. We compared the number of admissions during spring lockdown and for the whole years 2020 and 2021 in absolute numbers and in percentage changes to the corresponding periods in 2019 (baseline year). Results During spring lockdown, the number of admissions decreased by 47,156 (32.2%) without catch-up effect by the end of 2020 (-72,817 admissions/-5.8%). With procedure-specific decreases of up to 86%, the decline in admissions was largest for elective surgery, a decline that was only fully reversed in the case of a few procedures, such as joint arthroplasty. Strikingly, admissions due to emergencies also substantially decreased during spring lockdown (stroke -14%; acute myocardial infarction STEMI: -9%, NSTEMI: -26%). Results for the selected procedures in cancer surgery showed no consistent pattern. In 2021, admission numbers for most procedures reached or even exceeded those in 2019. Conclusions The substantial reduction in admissions, particularly in elective procedures, may reflect the impact of the triage in favor of anticipated Covid-19-cases during spring lockdown. By the end of 2020, admissions were still at lower levels relative to the previous, pre-pandemic year. The numbers in 2021 reached the same levels as those in 2019, which suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic only temporarily impacted inpatient health care in Switzerland. Long-term consequences of the observed reduction in admissions for emergencies and cancer surgery need to be investigated at the individual level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on inpatient health care in Switzerland 2020–2021—A descriptive retrospective study using admission data of all Swiss hospitals

Wirth,

Stucki,

Joerg

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Since there was no longer a formal treatment ban in Switzerland, these reductions can probably be attributed to a reaction of the hospitals to the pandemic situation (higher needs for intensive care units (4), staff shortages due to covid-infections) and to changes in patients' demand for health services. Based on Swiss survey data, Höglinger et al (5) found that both during and after the lockdown, numerous patients voluntarily refrained from seeking "planned or necessary" medical treatments "because of Corona". Similarly, a reduction in costs and consultations during the spring lockdown was observed in the Swiss outpatient sector (25,49).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to these restrictions on the supply side, patients' demand for medical services may have declined due to fears of a Covid-19 infection or to self-imposed restraints to avoid additional burden on the strained healthcare system. Evidence for these demand-side effects from patients for the period of the spring lockdown and subsequent months can be found in a representative Swiss survey study (5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on inpatient health care in Switzerland – a retrospective study using admission data of all Swiss hospitals

Wirth

Stucki

Jörg

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

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Background: As part of the Covid-19-restrictions in Switzerland, a federal ban on non-urgent examinations and treatments was applied to all hospitals during six weeks in spring 2020 (“spring lockdown”). The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on Swiss inpatient admissions based on data of all hospitals, focusing on selected procedures of different medical urgency. Methods: The study includes all acute care inpatient cases (including Covid-19 cases, excluding cases in psychiatry and rehabilitation) according to the Swiss Medical Statistics of Hospitals. Besides the total number of admissions, subdivided by regions, hospital types and age groups, we focused on selected procedures representing different medical urgency: elective surgeries, cancer surgeries, and emergencies. Procedures were selected based on expert interviews. We compared the number of admissions during spring lockdown and for the whole years 2020 and 2021 in absolute numbers and in percentage changes to the corresponding periods in 2019 (baseline year). Results: During spring lockdown, the number of admissions decreased by 47,156 (32.2%) without catch-up effect by the end of 2020 (-72,817 admissions/-5.8%). With procedure-specific decreases of up to 86%, the decline in admissions was largest for elective surgery, a decline that was only fully reversed in the case of a few procedures, such as joint arthroplasty. Strikingly, admissions due to emergencies also substantially decreased during spring lockdown (stroke -14%; acute myocardial infarction STEMI: -9%, NSTEMI: -26%). Results for the selected procedures in cancer surgery showed no consistent pattern. In 2021, admission numbers for most procedures reached or even exceeded those in 2019. Conclusions: The substantial reduction in admissions, particularly in elective procedures, may reflect the impact of the triage in favor of anticipated Covid-19-cases during spring lockdown. By the end of 2020, admissions were still at lower levels relative to the previous, pre-pandemic year. The numbers in 2021 reached the same levels as those in 2019, which suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic only temporarily impacted inpatient health care in Switzerland. Long-term consequences of the observed reduction in admissions for emergencies and cancer surgery need to be investigated at the individual level.

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“…Ideally, more diverse participants should have been involved in the evaluation of the guide. The project was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when doctor's visits were reduced to the minimum [35,36], and patients were probably less willing to participate. Additionally, the discussed skepticism in respect to patient-provider communication with the guide has led to a difficult recruiting process and a smaller, less diverse sample than planned.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients’ Perspectives on the Use of a Newly Developed “Patients’ Guide for Doctor’s Visit”: DocVISITguide

Jaks¹,

Guggiari

Gani

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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During doctor’s visits, fundamental decisions regarding a patient’s diagnosis and therapy are taken. However, consultations often take place within a limited time frame and are characterized by an asymmetric interaction. Therefore, patients’ questions can remain unanswered and concerns unspoken. A "Patients’ Guide for Doctor’s Visit" (DocVISITguide) was developed to prepare patients for their visits, supporting them to take an active role in the communication and leave the consultation well-informed. This paper describes the development of the DocVISITguide and its first small-scale evaluation based on a sequential explanatory mixed methods design from the patients’ perspective. For this purpose, a small sample of patients completed a pre- and post-questionnaire, and two in-depth interviews were conducted. Most participants found the DocVISITguide easy to understand. The guide helped them to take a closer look at their own health situation and be better prepared for the visit. More than three-quarters (82%) of the participants would probably use the guide again, and all (100%) would recommend it to family and friends. However, some patients felt unsure about using the guide within the consultation and showing it to their physician. To counteract this uncertainty, physicians should be actively involved in the use of such guides in the future.

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Gesundheitsökonomische Aspekte der Corona-Krise in der Schweiz: Resultate des COVID-19 Social Monitor

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on inpatient health care in Switzerland 2020–2021—A descriptive retrospective study using admission data of all Swiss hospitals

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on inpatient health care in Switzerland 2020–2021—A descriptive retrospective study using admission data of all Swiss hospitals

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on inpatient health care in Switzerland – a retrospective study using admission data of all Swiss hospitals

Patients’ Perspectives on the Use of a Newly Developed “Patients’ Guide for Doctor’s Visit”: DocVISITguide

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