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Healthcare
Special Issues
Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management
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Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Policy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 7184

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Kapritsou

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Guest Editor
Department of Anaesthesiology, Hellenic Anticancer "Saint Savvas" Hospital, 11544 Athens, Greece
Interests: healthcare management; clinical nursing practice and research focused on pain; stress and neuropeptides' levels issues; mainly concerning oncology and surgical patients (adults)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Theodoros N. Sergentanis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health Policy, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
Interests: public health; management; epidimiology; helath policies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite submissions to our Special Issue entitled "Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management". The problems frequently encountered in healthcare stem from shortcomings found in policies and management at all levels within healthcare systems. Recommendations by specialists in addressing the healthcare workforce crisis encompass interconnected strategies, policies, collaborative efforts based on solidarity, reforms in skill mixing, measures for equity, global initiatives, and, importantly, a robust government commitment. Furthermore, various specific policy solutions should be examined, including the displacement of healthcare professionals into the workforce and preparing the healthcare workforce to tackle the effects of a new pandemic.

This Special Issue aims to explore the evolution of healthcare policies and management in modern healthcare systems.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Management/conflict resolution/skill development;
  • Healthcare administration;
  • Health law and ethics;
  • Safety and quality;
  • Health informatics;
  • Delivery of care;
  • Financial healthcare management;
  • Management of human resources in healthcare;
  • Implementation of technological advancements;
  • Telehealth/telemedicine;
  • Healthcare strategies;
  • Measures and assessment tools in healthcare management and policies.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Maria Kapritsou
Dr. Theodoros N. Sergentanis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • policy
  • management
  • healthcare
  • nursing
  • skills
  • healthcare workforce

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 1609 KiB  
Article
When Research Evidence and Healthcare Policy Collide: Synergising Results and Policy into BRIGHTLIGHT Guidance to Improve Coordinated Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
by Rachel M. Taylor, Alexandra Pollitt, Gabriel Lawson, Ross Pow, Rachael Hough, Louise Soanes, Amy Riley, Maria Lawal, Lorna A. Fern, BRIGHTLIGHT Study Group, Young Advisory Panel and the Policy Lab Participants
Healthcare 2025, 13(15), 1821; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151821 - 26 Jul 2025
Viewed by 297
Abstract
Background/Objectives: BRIGHTLIGHT was the national evaluation of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer services in England. BRIGHTLIGHT results were not available when the most recent healthcare policy (NHSE service specifications for AYA Cancer) for AYA was drafted and therefore did not consider BRIGHTLIGHT [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: BRIGHTLIGHT was the national evaluation of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer services in England. BRIGHTLIGHT results were not available when the most recent healthcare policy (NHSE service specifications for AYA Cancer) for AYA was drafted and therefore did not consider BRIGHTLIGHT findings and recommendations. We describe the co-development and delivery of a Policy Lab to expedite the implementation of the new service specification in the context of BRIGHTLIGHT results, examining the roles of multi-stakeholders to ensure service delivery is optimised to benefit AYA patients. We address the key question, “What is the roadmap for empowering different stakeholders to shape how the AYA service specifications are implemented?”. Methods: A 1-day face-to-face policy lab was facilitated, utilising a unique, user-centric engagement approach by bringing diverse AYA stakeholders together to co-design strategies to translate BRIGHTLIGHT evidence into policy and impact. This was accompanied by an online workshop and prioritisation survey, individual interviews, and an AYA patient workshop. Workshop outputs were analysed thematically and survey data quantitatively. Results: Eighteen professionals and five AYAs attended the face-to-face Policy Lab, 16 surveys were completed, 13 attended the online workshop, three professionals were interviewed, and three AYAs attended the patient workshop. The Policy Lab generated eight national and six local recommendations, which were prioritised into three national priorities: 1. Launching the service specification supported by compelling communication; 2. Harnessing the ideas of young people; and 3. Evaluation of AYA patient outcomes/experiences and establishing a national dashboard of AYA cancer network performance. An animation was created by AYAs to inform local hospitals what matters to them most in the service specification. Conclusions: Policy and research evidence are not always aligned, so when emerging evidence does not support current guidance, further exploration is required. We have shown through multi-stakeholder involvement including young people that it was possible to gain a different interpretation based on current knowledge and context. This additional insight enabled practical recommendations to be identified to support the implementation of the service specification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management)
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18 pages, 226 KiB  
Article
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Antibiotic Prescription Among Dentists in Saudi Arabia—A Cross-Sectional Survey
by Kiran Iyer, Jawaher Alhababi, Alanoud Aldhafayan, Amal Albarrak, Faey Alburidy, Fatimah Alanazi, Fatimah Albawardi and Abdulmohsen Alfadley
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101198 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Prescription challenges in antibiotics contribute to the global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We are rapidly moving into an age of ‘resistome’, which has grave consequences. Dentists frequently prescribe antibiotics for intraoral infections and as prophylaxis, particularly for immunocompromised patients, although the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Prescription challenges in antibiotics contribute to the global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We are rapidly moving into an age of ‘resistome’, which has grave consequences. Dentists frequently prescribe antibiotics for intraoral infections and as prophylaxis, particularly for immunocompromised patients, although the clinical justification for these prescriptions remains a point of concern. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia regarding antibiotic prescription. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October to November 2024, involving 252 dentists from various regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered through social media. Results: The dentists were likely to agree to prescribe antibiotics post-procedurally to be safe [OR 0.18, p = 0.42, CI −0.94]. Contrastingly, the knowledge of less experienced dentists [OR 9.60, p = 0.03, CI 1.21–76.15] was updated regarding prescribing penicillin for women in the third trimester of pregnancy than that of experienced dentists (>10 years). Conclusions: Although the knowledge level of practitioners in the public sector is reasonably good, there are concerns about antibiotic prescription practice among private dental practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management)
12 pages, 2175 KiB  
Article
Determinants of Appointment Planning in Physical Therapy: Insights from Saudi Arabia
by Saad A. Alhammad, Omar Khalid Almuhanna, Abdulaziz Riyadh Aljumaah and Muteb Safar Aldosari
Healthcare 2025, 13(8), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080893 - 13 Apr 2025
Viewed by 833
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Appointment planning in physical therapy (PT) is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and resource efficiency, yet determinants of these plans and deviations from them remain underexplored. This study aimed to explore how physical therapists in Saudi Arabia determine appointment numbers, their preferred [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Appointment planning in physical therapy (PT) is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and resource efficiency, yet determinants of these plans and deviations from them remain underexplored. This study aimed to explore how physical therapists in Saudi Arabia determine appointment numbers, their preferred planning methods, and the prevalence and contributing factors of deviations from planned appointments. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an electronic questionnaire distributed to PTs practicing in outpatient departments and homecare settings across Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize therapists’ methods, preferences, and the prevalence of and potential reasons for deviations. Results: A total of 434 responses were collected. Most therapists (66%) relied on their evaluation to determine the number of appointments, and this was their preferred method (76%). However, 50% reported patients usually requiring more appointments than initially planned, and 14% did not complete all the planned appointments. Faster-than-expected progress (61%) and slower-than-expected progress (58%) were the primary reasons for deviations. Conclusions: Despite most therapists determining the number of appointments based on their evaluation, the majority reported usual deviations from planned appointments, highlighting a gap in appointment planning. Future research should investigate the impact of deviations on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Strategies to reduce deviations, such as improving adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), are warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management)
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17 pages, 2692 KiB  
Article
The Predictability of the Dental Practitioner in a Volatile Healthcare System: A 25-Year Study of Dental Care Policies in Romania (1999–2023)
by Ana Cernega, Dana Galieta Mincă, Florentina Ligia Furtunescu, Ciprian-Paul Radu, Simona Pârvu and Silviu-Mirel Pițuru
Healthcare 2025, 13(3), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030249 - 26 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1378
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This paper brings to light the results of extensive research on the dimension of dental care in Romania in terms of priorities and policies defined at the governmental level for a 25-year period (1999–2023). This research aims to present both individual and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This paper brings to light the results of extensive research on the dimension of dental care in Romania in terms of priorities and policies defined at the governmental level for a 25-year period (1999–2023). This research aims to present both individual and ecosystem perspectives on the influence of the way oral health strategies are shaped in Romania. Methods: The data collected are analyzed through the prism of the “iron triangle of healthcare”, focusing on the evolution of dental care from the perspective of the interrelationship of three important components: cost, quality, and access to healthcare services. Results: The paper provides insight and clarity into the context in which the doctor–patient relationship is constructed and developed, as well as a vision of how oral health policies should be designed to meet the individual needs of the patient, which will have an impact on the health and quality of life of the whole community. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the need to reconfigure oral health policies in Romania. Despite some input achievements like a considerable number of dentists, the systemic challenges that developed over these 25 years (such as insufficient funding, the reduced reimbursed procedures, and the limited dentists contracting with NHIH) have significantly contributed to a stagnation or decline of the oral health outcomes at the societal level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management)
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Review

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11 pages, 218 KiB  
Review
Digital Healthcare Innovative Services in Times of Crisis: A Literature Review
by Olympia Anastasiadou, Markos Tsipouras, Panagiotis Mpogiatzidis and Pantelis Angelidis
Healthcare 2025, 13(8), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080889 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 755
Abstract
Objectives: The transformation of healthcare systems during crises, particularly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizes the urgent need for effective research methodologies to evaluate digital healthcare innovations. These methodologies are essential in addressing the rapid shift in healthcare service delivery modalities, responding to [...] Read more.
Objectives: The transformation of healthcare systems during crises, particularly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizes the urgent need for effective research methodologies to evaluate digital healthcare innovations. These methodologies are essential in addressing the rapid shift in healthcare service delivery modalities, responding to unprecedented challenges that have revealed both opportunities and barriers within the digital ecosystem. Methods: For this review, research was carried out on the Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases to locate articles published from 2015 to 2024, using the search terms digital health, digital technologies, management implications, and digital platforms. The inclusion criteria referred to studies that were directly related to the topic, available in the English language, and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The exclusion parameters were as follows: (a) articles not relevant to the topic as defined in the purpose of the review, (b) systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and (c) articles published in a language other than English. Results: Key findings indicate that, while digital health technologies have the potential to mitigate healthcare disparities, they often exacerbate existing inequities, especially among vulnerable populations lacking consistent access to technology. Furthermore, the shift towards digital platforms has revealed significant gaps in workforce training and support, which are essential for effective implementation. Conclusions: This review underscores the financial implications, with expenditures rising significantly due to the increased use of digital services, reflecting a broader trend noted in studies of related health conditions. Moreover, discussions on public health governance suggest a critical need for democratic frameworks to support such digital transformations effectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management)
18 pages, 685 KiB  
Review
Intersectionality of the Gender Wage Gap Among Healthcare Professionals: A Scoping Review
by Neeru Gupta and Jonathan Zoungrana
Healthcare 2025, 13(3), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030273 - 30 Jan 2025
Viewed by 2556
Abstract
Background: A growing body of research has documented persistent wage gaps between women and men in the healthcare workforce, a pattern widely observed across cadres and countries. Less well known is whether various intersecting characteristics often associated with social discrimination may exacerbate or [...] Read more.
Background: A growing body of research has documented persistent wage gaps between women and men in the healthcare workforce, a pattern widely observed across cadres and countries. Less well known is whether various intersecting characteristics often associated with social discrimination may exacerbate or attenuate gendered disparities. This review scopes contemporary research from diverse settings focusing on how race, ethnicity, and sexual and gender minority status may intersect in shaping earnings differentials among healthcare practitioners to help inform policy and management decisions. Methods: Studies quantifying the intersecting axes of gender and other postulated social drivers of differed practitioner earnings were identified by systematically searching five bibliographic databases (Embase, CINAHL, EconLit, SocIndex, and PsychInfo) and scanning the reference lists of review articles and other forms of the global health literature. A total of 2123 reports were retrieved; after screening, 21 articles were retained for narrative synthesis. Results: The studies covered data from four countries (Brazil, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Physicians were researched most often (43% of the synthesized articles) followed by nurses (38%). No uniform patterns were found in gendered earnings variations stratified by race, ethnicity, and/or ancestry; however, wide variations were seen in the way the relationships were operationalized across studies and contexts. One investigation included sexual orientation as a factor in earnings gaps, but presented results combined with other personal characteristics. None of the studies examined wage data by gender minority status. Conclusions: This review highlighted notable limitations in the available research in relation to disaggregated measures of ethnocultural heterogeneity, robust methodologies and transparent reporting, and the underlying health workforce information systems for incorporating more diversity elements and enhancing cross-national comparability in assessments of structural wage gaps among healthcare practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management)
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Other

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10 pages, 195 KiB  
Brief Report
Digital Divide: Contrasting Provider and User Insights on Healthcare Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Olympia Anastasiadou, Panagiotis Mpogiatzidis, Katerina D. Tzimourta and Pantelis Angelidis
Healthcare 2025, 13(15), 1803; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151803 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 217
Abstract
Introduction: This prospective descriptive study explored the disparities in perceptions and experiences regarding healthcare services between providers and users during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on the impact of the digital divide on access to and quality of care. The study [...] Read more.
Introduction: This prospective descriptive study explored the disparities in perceptions and experiences regarding healthcare services between providers and users during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on the impact of the digital divide on access to and quality of care. The study revealed significant inconsistencies in the experiences of healthcare providers and patients, particularly regarding the effectiveness of digital health interventions. Methods: This study was a prospective descriptive analysis conducted to evaluate and compare the use of electronic healthcare services between healthcare employees (HΕs) (N = 290) and consumers (Cs) (N = 263) from December 2024 to May 2025, utilizing an electronic survey after the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the statistical validity of the sample size, a power analysis was performed using G*Power 3.1.9.2 software. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the readiness of healthcare employees and consumers for electronic healthcare services. It was validated to ensure reliability within this population and comprised 49 questions. Results: The response rate of the participants was 89.19%, and the Cronbach’s alpha for the questionnaire was 0.738. The study revealed notable differences in perceptions regarding health-related information and digital health technologies across genders and age groups. Specifically, 28.8% of females and 27.3% of males considered it important to be well-informed about health issues (χ2 = 8.83, df = 3, p = 0.032). Conclusions: This research contributes to filling a gap in comparative analyses of provider and user perspectives, offering a comprehensive view of how digital health was adopted and experienced during a global crisis. Practically, it provides an evidence base to guide future interventions aimed at fostering more equitable, resilient, and user-friendly digital healthcare systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implications for Healthcare Policy and Management)
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