Association between prehospital medical service complexity and perceived task load of emergency calls among paramedics in Taiwan: a nationwide survey study.

Evidence on paramedics' task load is limited despite the growth of prehospital emergency medical services (EMS). This study aims to investigate the association between the clinical complexity of prehospital EMS patients and paramedics' (EMT-P's) perceived task load during their most recent call. In this nationwide cross-sectional study, a total of 430 paramedics attending 10 out of the 13 training groups of the "2023 Refresher Training Program for EMT-Ps" in Taiwan were asked to complete an anonymous online survey.

Impact of same-day ART initiation on medical care and medication discontinuation among patients with incident HIV infection or AIDS in Taiwan: A population-based cohort study.

Background: Care retention and medication adherence are crucial for individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Discrepancies exist between real-world evidence and randomized trials regarding early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and care retention. We investigated the effects of same-day ART initiation on care and medication discontinuation in new patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and those newly infected with HIV.

Pharmaceutical procurement profits and universal health coverage: Reform to a sustainable healthcare and financing system.

Background: In this study, using Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) as an example of a single-payer system, we examined the extent of pharmaceutical procurement profits (PPP) and evaluated their impact on the financial performance of healthcare institutions.

Methods: We extracted data from financial statements and healthcare service declarations of NHI-contracted hospitals from 2015 to 2021. Financial data concerning PPP, health service profits (HSP), and total operating profits (TOP) from each hospital were analyzed.

The 2017 Women's Health Initiative study and use of hormone therapy: an emulated repeated cross-sectional study.

Background: Hormone therapy (HT) use among menopausal women declined after negative information from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) HT study. The 2017 post-intervention follow-up WHI study revealed that HT did not increase long-term mortality. However, studies on the effects of the updated WHI findings are lacking.

Cost-effectiveness of ivosidenib versus chemotherapy for previously treated IDH1-mutant advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in Taiwan.

Background: International guidelines recommend ivosidenib followed by modified FOLFOX (mFOLFOX) for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations. Taiwan National Health Insurance covers only fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) chemotherapy for this ICC group, and there has been no prior economic evaluation of ivosidenib. Therefore, we aimed to assess ivosidenib's cost-effectiveness in previously treated, advanced ICC-presenting IDH1 mutations compared with mFOLFOX or 5-FU/LV.

Cost-effectiveness of pemigatinib as a second-line treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 fusions in Taiwan: from the evidence of the phase II trial and the perspective of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration.

Background: In December 2022, the Taiwan National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) announced the reimbursement of three dosages of pemigatinib 4.5 mg, 9 mg, and 13.5 mg for treating advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusions/rearrangements and set the reimbursement price for pemigatinib 4.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a New Second-Line Treatment Regimen for Advanced Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Biomarker-Driven Targeted Therapy of Pemigatinib Versus 5-FU Chemotherapy.

Background And Objectives: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends a second-line treatment of pemigatinib for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusions/rearrangements and modified FOLFOX (mFOLFOX) for those without FGFR2 alterations. However, these regimens are not yet covered by Taiwa's National Health Insurance. This cost-effectiveness analysis evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the pemigatinib/mFOLFOX regimen as the second-line treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma based on FGFR2 status in comparison with the regimen of fluorouracil chemotherapy and provided a cost-effectiveness analysis-based reference price for pemigatinib.

Impacts of intervals between sequential development of depression and dementia in older adults: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Depression has been reported as a risk factor for dementia, as well as the continuation of dementia development. This study aimed to stratify older people with dementia (PwD) into three groups (no depression, early depression and recent depression) to compare their inpatient health care utilization and to explore related clinical impacts.

Methods: Overall, 11,612 PwD were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and were further divided into 9,257 PwD without depression, 1,179 PwD with recent depression (< 2 years from dementia diagnosis), and 1,176 PwD with early depression (> 2 years from dementia diagnosis).