Browsing by Author "Stars, Inese"

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    Health-related quality of life of the parents of children hospitalized due to acute rotavirus infection : A cross-sectional study in Latvia
    (2018-03) Laizane, Gunta; Kivite, Anda; Stars, Inese; Cikovska, Marita; Grope, Ilze; Gardovska, Dace; Department of Paediatrics; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
    Background: Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in young children and infants worldwide, representing a heavy public health burden. Limited information is available regarding the impact of rotavirus gastroenteritis on the quality of life of affected children and their families. The objectives of study were to estimate the impact of rotavirus infection on health-related quality of life (HRQL), to assess the social and emotional effects on the families of affected children. Methods: This study enrolled all (n=527) RotaStrip®-positive (with further PCR detection) cases (0-18 years of age) hospitalized from April 2013 to December 2015 and their caregivers. A questionnaire comprising clinical (filled-in by the medical staff) and social (filled by the caregivers) sections was completed per child. Results: Main indicators of emotional burden reported by caregivers were compassion (reported as severe/very severe by 91.1% of parents), worry (85.2%), stress/anxiety (68.0%). Regarding social burden, 79.3% of caregivers reported the need to introduce changes into their daily routine due to rotavirus infection of their child. Regarding economic burden, 55.1% of parents needed to take days off work because of their child's sickness, and 76.1% of parents reported additional expenditures in the family's budget. Objective measures of their child's health status were not associated with HRQL of the family, as were the parent's subjective evaluation of their child's health and some sociodemographic factors. Parents were significantly more worried if their child was tearful (p=0.006) or irritable (p<0.001). Parents were more stressful/anxious if their child had a fever (p=0.003), was tearful (p<0.001), or was irritable (p<0.001). Changes in parents' daily routines were more often reported if the child had a fever (p=0.02) or insufficient fluid intake (p=0.04). Conclusion: Objective health status of the child did not influence the emotional, social or economic burden, whereas the parents' subjective perception of the child's health status and sociodemographic characteristics, were influential. A better understanding of how acute episodes affect the child and family, will help to ease parental fears and advise parents on the characteristics of rotavirus infection and the optimal care of an infected child.
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    Impact of Pediatric COVID-19 on Family Health-Related Quality of Life : A Qualitative Study from Latvia
    (2021-04) Stars, Inese; Smane, Liene; Pucuka, Zanda; Roge, Ieva; Pavare, Jana; Rīga Stradiņš University
    Information on family health-related quality of life (FHRQoL) among families of children with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. This qualitative study explores the impact of pediatric COVID-19 on FHRQoL from the parents’ perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents (n = 20) whose children had tested positive for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Inductive thematic analysis revealed the following 10 themes that represented parents’ perception of FHRQoL while taking care of a child with COVID-19: pediatric COVID-19 as a disease with many unknowns; emotional saturation; internal family relationships in the context of “a new experience”; routine household activities and daily regimen while family is in lockdown; plenty of free time; a wide social support network; social stigma associated with COVID-19; different options for work; savings and debts; challenges with family housing and transport availability. Our results show that parents experience multiple effects of pediatric COVID-19 with regard to FHRQoL.
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    Internal communication within the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia
    (2021-10) Kursīte, Mirdza; Stars, Inese; Gobiņa, Inese; Spriņģe, Lauma; Villerusa, Anita; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology; Institute of Public Health
    Background Effective communication among health care providers is a key for responding to the rapidly changing health care needs, improving work efficiency, and ensuring patient safety, particularly during the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores the communication-related experiences of healthcare professionals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. Methods Semi-structured interviews with 7 chairman of healthcare facilities, 19 general practitioners, and 15 specialists were conducted from September to December 2020. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis revealed five themes related to internal communication among health care providers. The study was a component of the National research programme VPP-COVID-2020/1-0011. Results The 1st theme, ‘Initial chaos paralyzing the system', illustrated the disorderly format of delivering the information that created confusion and anxiety. The 2nd theme, ‘Overwhelming amount of information', revealed the challenge to process new information received daily and from various sources. The 3rd theme, ‘Decentralized decision-making' highlighted the lack of clearly communicated algorithms for specific patients' groups, leaving the decision-making to the health care providers. The 4th theme, ‘Collegial support of the peers”, emerged as a crucial coping mechanism and information channel, substituting for the lack of official information. The 5th theme, ‘Opportunity for growth', consolidated suggestions from health care professionals for improving internal communication in future. Conclusions Internal communication as experienced among healthcare professionals was overwhelming and insufficient at the same time. It created an environment promoting closer collaboration among different specialists and suggestions for necessary improvements. Key messages Understanding and perception of communication among health care providers in different healthcare system levels were central that affected the health care actions tackling the COVID-19 emergency. Effective communication within the healthcare system is critical during the pandemic. Messages should be clear, evidence-informed, and transparent for targeted action of the health care workforce.
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    A mixed-method study on the provision of remote consultations for non-communicable disease patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia : lessons for the future
    (2022-12) Kursīte, Mirdza; Stars, Inese; Strēle, Ieva; Gobiņa, Inese; Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Anda; Behmane, Daiga; Dūdele, Alina; Villeruša, Anita; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology; Institute of Public Health
    Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the ability of healthcare systems to ensure the continuity of health services for patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The issue of remote consultations has emerged. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, remote consultations were not routinely provided or covered by public health funding in Latvia. This study aimed to describe the dynamics of consultations and the volume of remote consultations provided for patients with particular NCD and explore clinicians' experiences of providing remote consultations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. Methods: A mixed-method study focusing on the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia in Spring 2020 was conducted. Quantitative data from the National Health Services were analysed to assess the dynamics of consultations for patients with selected NCDs. Qualitative data were collected through 34 semi-structured interviews with general practitioners (GPs) and specialists and were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis. Purposive maximum variation sampling was used for participant selection. Results: During the period with the strongest restrictions of scheduled on-site consultations, a decrease in the total number of consultations was observed for a variety of NCDs. A significant proportion of consultations in this period were provided remotely. GPs provided approximately one-third of cancer-related consultations and almost half of consultations for the other selected conditions remotely. Among specialists, endocrinologists had the highest proportion of remote consultations (up to 72.0%), while urologists had the lowest (16.4%). Thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed five themes: 1) Adjusting in a time of confusion and fear, 2) Remote consultations: safety versus availability, 3) Sacrifice and loss of privacy, 4) Advantages and disadvantages of communication technologies, and 5) Different form of communication and a health literacy challenge. Conclusions: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia, disruptions to health care services decreased the total number of consultations for patients with NCDs provided by both GPs and specialists. In this period, remote consultations proved to be an important instrument for ensuring the continuity of health care for patients with NCDs, and the necessity to develop a well-designed system for telemedicine in Latvia was highlighted.
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    Qualitative Study on Family Health-Related Quality of Life Due to Pediatric COVID-19 Infection In Latvia
    (2024-02-01) Pučuka, Zanda; Meiere, Anija; Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Anda; Smane, Liene; Stars, Inese; Roģe, Ieva; Račko, Iveta; Kļaviņa, Lizete; Pavāre, Jana; Department of Paediatrics; Institute of Public Health; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
    The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and ensuing public health policies have immensely affected the lives of billions of people worldwide and been challenging for families. There have been studies exploring mental health of different age groups during a pandemic, but few have focused on family health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This qualitative study investigates the emotional well-being of families while caring for an acutely sick child with COVD-19, using semi-structured in-depth interviews. The results demonstrate that it is one of the most affected components of the family HRQoL.
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    The response of patient organizations to the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic : A qualitative study in Latvia
    (EDP Sciences, 2024-03) Spriņģe, Lauma; Stars, Inese; Kursīte, Mirdza; Putniņa, Renāte; Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Anda; Villeruša, Anita; Vilka, L.; Krumina, J.; Institute of Public Health; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
    Patient organizations have proven to be crucial stakeholders for patient needs in the health system. However, the global health crisis due to the emergence of COVID-19 has affected the routine of organizations. This qualitative study explores the experience of patient organizations in adapting their services to the situation during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia in Spring-Autumn 2020. Fifteen chairpersons of patient organizations were recruited and interviewed using a semi-structured key informant interview. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed with manual thematic coding. Four main themes were identified: information needs on COVID-19; diversification of communication channels and their adjustment to the COVID-19 situation; continuity of routine management of patient organization; support mechanisms for patient organizations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient organizations experienced a rapidly changing environment as a result of COVID-19 and have had to react immediately to ensure the provision of the service to the patient community they serve.