Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany

Lee, Susan; Groß, Sophie E.; Pfaff, Holger; Dresen, Antje

doi:10.1177/0046958019875897

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Interestingly, patients with statutory vs. private insurance were more worried that the pandemic could negatively impact the quality of their medical care. This corresponds to findings that privately insured patients have easier access to innovative medications, have shorter waiting times for appointments, and receive more time with physicians (30)(31)(32). Thus, some patients may view patient care with statutory health insurance as "worse" than that of private insurance.…”

Section: Covid-19 Related Concernssupporting

confidence: 72%

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Cancer Patients in Germany: Impact on Treatment, Follow-Up Care and Psychological Burden

Eckford

Gaisser

Arndt

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In response to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, governments imposed various measures to decrease the rate of disease spread, and health care policy makers prioritized resource allocation to accommodate COVID-19 patients. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey in Germany (July 2020–June 2021) to assess the frequency of changes to cancer care among cancer patients and to explore the psychological impact of the pandemic writ large. Cancer patients who contacted the Cancer Information Service (Krebsinformationsdienst, KID) of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) via email were invited to complete an online questionnaire, capturing demographics, cancer specifics (e.g., type, disease phase, primary place of treatment, etc.), and any changes to their medical, follow-up, psycho-oncological or nursing care. General level of psychological distress was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) along with face-validated items regarding worries and social isolation specific to the pandemic. In total, 13% of 621 patients reported a change to their treatment or care plan. Of those patients with changes, the majority of changes were made to follow-up care after treatment (56%), to monitoring during treatment (29%) and to psychological counseling (20%). Of the overall sample, more than half of patients (55%) reported symptoms of anxiety and 39% reported symptoms of depression. Patients with a change in cancer care were more likely to report symptoms of depression than those with no change (AOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.26–3.76). Concern about the pandemic affecting the quality of health care was a predictor of both anxiety (AOR: 2.76; 95% CI: 1.75–4.35) and depression (AOR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.43–3.23). Results showed that the majority of cancer patients in our study did not experience a change in their cancer care. However, the level of anxiety and psycho-social burden of cancer patients during the pandemic was high throughout the study period. Our findings underscore the need for health care services and policy makers to assess and to attend cancer patients' medical needs, with added emphasis on patients' psychological and social well-being. This applies particularly in situations where the healthcare system is strained and prioritization is necessary.

show abstract

Section: Covid-19 Related Concernssupporting

confidence: 72%

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Cancer Patients in Germany: Impact on Treatment, Follow-Up Care and Psychological Burden

Eckford

Gaisser

Arndt

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Germany, with its two-tier insurance system, provides a suitable framework for analyses of differences between insurance statuses [ 15 , 16 ]. Health insurance is mandatory in Germany and people are either covered by statutory health insurance (SHI) or by private health insurance (PHI).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 pandemic and waiting times in outpatient specialist care in Germany: an empirical analysis

Muschol

Gissel

2021

BMC Health Serv Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background International healthcare systems face the challenge that waiting times may create barriers to accessing medical care, and that those barriers are unequally distributed between different patient groups. The disruption of healthcare systems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could exacerbate this already strained demand situation. Using the German healthcare system as an example, this study aims to analyze potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on waiting times for outpatient specialist care and to evaluate differences between individual patient groups based on their respective insurance status and the level of supply. Methods We conducted an experiment in which we requested appointments by telephone for different insurance statuses in regions with varying levels of supply from 908 outpatient specialist practices in Germany before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 589 collected appointments were analyzed using a linear mixed effect model. Results The data analysis revealed two main counteracting effects. First, the average waiting time has decreased for both patients with statutory (mandatory public health insurance) and private health insurance. Inequalities in access to healthcare, however, remained and were based on patients’ insurance status and the regional level of supply. Second, the probability of not receiving an appointment at all significantly increased during the pandemic. Conclusions Patient uncertainty due to the fear of a potential COVID-19 infection may have freed up capacities in physicians’ practices, resulting in a reduction of waiting times. At the same time, the exceptional situation caused by the pandemic may have led to uncertainty among physicians, who might thus have allocated appointments less frequently. To avoid worse health outcomes in the long term due to a lack of physician visits, policymakers and healthcare providers should focus more on regular care in the current COVID-19 pandemic.

show abstract

“…Patients with statutory insurance are more likely to report long waiting times for examinations, discharge, and to speak with the physician than private insurance holders. 22 State-level Medicaid policies (joint federal-state program covering health care services to low-income population) and patient characteristics can affect receipt of timely surgery among Medicaid beneficiaries with breast cancer. 23 In Indonesia, the form of compulsory or statutory health insurance is the JKN-BPJS participant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Surgical Waiting Time in Cancer Patients at Referral Hospitals of West Java Province

Susanti

Irasanti

Akbar

et al. 2020

Glob Med Health Commun

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A challenge for hospitals in facing the high number of patient visits is to provide quality services. One of the vital services in dealing with patients, especially those who will have cancer surgery considering the high rate of mortality cancer, is an improvement in waiting time (WT). Waiting time for elective surgery is one indicator of service quality with a standard of ≤2 days. This research aimed to determine the average WT for surgery, influencing factors, and optimal queuing models. The method used was quantitative and qualitative methods applied to 207 samples with consecutive sampling at West Java Provincial Al-Ihsan Regional General Hospital Bandung from October to December 2016. The analysis used partial least squares (PLS). The results of the study showed that the average WT for surgery was 32 days. Factors that influence WT were inpatient rooms, number of medical personnel, condition of patients, and health insurance. The optimal queue model to reduce surgical waiting time are adding inpatient beds, oncologist doctor, and creating an online system for registration and confirmation of inpatient rooms and operating. FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI WAKTU TUNGGU OPERASI PASIEN KANKER DI RUMAH SAKIT RUJUKAN JAWA BARATTantangan bagi rumah sakit dalam menghadapi jumlah kunjungan pasien yang tinggi adalah mampu memberikan pelayanan berkualitas. Salah satu pelayanan signifikan bagi pasien kanker yang akan menjalani operasi adalah perbaikan waktu tunggu karena mortalitas pasien kanker yang tinggi. Waktu tunggu operasi elektif merupakan salah satu indikator mutu pelayanan dengan standar ≤2 hari. Penelitian bertujuan mengetahui waktu tunggu operasi rerata, faktor yang memengaruhi, dan model antrean yang optimal. Metode yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif dan kualitatif yang diterapkan pada 207 sampel secara consecutive sampling di RSUD Al-Ihsan Provinsi Jawa Barat Bandung dari Oktober hingga Desember 2016. Analisis menggunakan partial least squares (PLS). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa waktu tunggu operasi rerata adalah 32 hari. Faktor yang berpengaruh terhadap waktu tunggu operasi adalah ruang rawat inap, jumlah tenaga medis, kondisi pasien, dan jaminan kesehatan. Model antrean yang optimal untuk menurunkan waktu tunggu operasi adalah penambahan tempat tidur rawat inap, penambahan dokter spesialis bedah onkologi, serta pembuatan sistem daring untuk pendaftaran dan konfirmasi kesiapan ruang rawat inap dan ruang operasi.

show abstract

Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany

Cited by 3 publications

References 20 publications

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Cancer Patients in Germany: Impact on Treatment, Follow-Up Care and Psychological Burden

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Cancer Patients in Germany: Impact on Treatment, Follow-Up Care and Psychological Burden

COVID-19 pandemic and waiting times in outpatient specialist care in Germany: an empirical analysis

Factors Affecting Surgical Waiting Time in Cancer Patients at Referral Hospitals of West Java Province

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About