EcoEchoes

Episode 15: Mario Macis on the importance of trust in healthcare-seeking behavior

In this episode, Mario Macis discusses his research on trust and healthcare-seeking behavior. He provides insights into the challenges and implications of trust in the healthcare system, linking it to topics like COVID-19, the role of public institutions, and differences in healthcare trust across political lines. Mario also shares his career experiences and advice for junior scholars on publishing and navigating academia.
 
Guest: Mario Macis (Professor of Economics and Management at Johns Hopkins University)
Hosts: Fanny Tallgren and María-José Mendoza
 
Timestamps:
(1:59) Marco presents his diverse research interests and expertise
(6:53) The role of trust in economics and healthcare
(13:32) Explanation of the theoretical model of trust and healthcare-seeking behavior
(27:28) The observed association between trust and healthcare-seeking behavior
(39:08) COVID-19 and the political divide in trust towards public health agencies
(48:47) Mario shares guidance on publishing and reflects on his future research directions 
 
References:
Working paper: Trust and Health care-seeking behavior
Working paper mentioned about use of qualitative data: Haaland et al. (2024)

Episode 14: Marco Varkevisser on the Dutch healthcare system and its sustainability

In this episode, Marco Varkevisser delves into the Dutch healthcare system and its sustainability, providing an helpful overview and insights from his most recent research on the topic. He discusses practical case studies, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlights the current challenges within healthcare. Marco also offers valuable advice for teachers and aspiring students based on his experiences and academic recognition.
 
Guest: Marco Varkevisser (Full Professor at the Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management)
Hosts: Fanny Tallgren and Karen Trujillo Jara
 
Timestamps:
(02:12) Marco's research expertise and interests
(06:01) An introduction to the Dutch healthcare system and its sustainability
(18:01) The Dutch basic benefit package and the role of stakeholders
(26.45) The issue of global shortage of healthcare labour
(29.20) COVID-19 case: did the Dutch healthcare system cope well?
(32:37) The trade-off between collaboration and competition
(43:03) Future research on planetary health
(45:22) Advice for teachers and future students
 
References:
Report: Sustainability and Resilience in the Dutch Health System 
Journal article: Competition and collaboration in health care: reconciling the irreconcilable? Lessons from The Netherlands

Episode 13: Lisa Voois on Health-related Expectations and Behaviors

In this episode, we are chatting to Lisa Voois about her PhD thesis on health-related expectations and behaviours. We are also joined for the first time by our new co-host, Andrea! We first talk about her single authored paper "When the sun goes down: Effects of sunset time on adolescent sleep, mental health and education". We then discuss research of beliefs and expectations more generally. In her thesis, Lisa analysed the accuracy of long-term care risk perceptions and retirement expectations.  
 
Guest: Lisa Voois (Assistant Professor at the Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management.)
Hosts: Fanny Tallgren and Andrea De Palma
 
Timestamps:
(01:25) Brief summary of Lisa's thesis 
(03:00) Introduction to Lisa's single authored paper on the effects of sunset time on adolescent sleep, mental health and education
(14:45) Discussion of the results of the paper  
(21:33) Experience writing a single-authored paper  
(27:25) Measuring beliefs / perceptions / expectations  
(38:00) Role of beliefs in influencing behaviours such as planning for retirement
(43:10) Contribution of thesis to society 
 
 
References:
Book: Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker (2017)
 

Episode 12: Marlies Bär on the Effect of Delayed Nursing Home Admission

In this episode, Marlies discusses her research on delayed nursing home admissions, how they impact the hospitalization sector and other spillover effects. She also reflects upon her PhD, sharing useful tips around how to survive your PhD and the importance of research visits.
Guest: Marlies Bär (Assistant professor at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management) 
Hosts: Fanny Tallgren and Karen Trujillo Jara
Timestamps: 
(00:55) Introduction and her research in resource allocation in long-term care
(04:48) Effects of delayed nursing home admissions - Research aim, methodology and causes of delayed admissions
(13:53) Consequences of delayed admissions - Impact on hospitalization rates and cost-benefit evaluation
(24:13) Policy implications - Importance of media outreach, better admission criteria and research timing
(29:22) Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on nursing home demand
(31:02) External research visit - Why should you do it?
(37:11) What to do after a PhD and tips for surviving the PhD journey
 
Link to working paper: Spillover Effects of Delayed Nursing Home Admissions on Hospitalisations and Costs

Episode 11: Bram Wouterse on the value of prevention and long-term care

In this episode Bram explains key elements of the economics of prevention and long-term care, highlighting applied research in the Dutch context. He also shares his experience working in the policy-advice and academic environments and finally some words of advice for PhD students and recent graduates. 
Guest: Bram Wouterse (Associate professor at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management) 
Hosts: Prithviraj Basu Mallik and María-José Mendoza
 Timestamps: 
(01:11) Intro - how do you identify yourself? 
(02:56) The value of prevention: health vs economic perspective 
(11:15) Economic evaluations and prevention-related interventions: suitable framework?
(17:36) Consequences of healthy ageing 
(25:09) LTC research - how did you start? Lessons from the LTC system in the NL? What is the future of LTC? 
(42:49) Life after the PhD: job tasks in policy advice vs academia 
(52:40) Tips for PhDs: expectations, priorities, career trajectory as an academic 
 
 

Episode 10: Francisca Vargas Lopes , Mental health care and inequalities

In this episode Francisca Vargas discusses with us about the research she conducted during her PhD at Erasmus University Rotterdam: " Income inequalities beyond access to mental health care” and “Patient cost-sharing, mental health care and inequalities". In addition, she shares about her experience of having roles in academia, at OECD and as the Vice President of the Portuguese Association of Health Economics. 
Guest: Francisca Vargas Lopes
Hosts: Prithviraj Basu Mallik and María-José Mendoza
 Timestamps: 
(4:33) Francisca’s PhD research on “Income inequalities beyond access to mental health care”
(19:27) Discussion on the target group of the study “Patient cost-sharing, mental health care and inequalities"
(31:27) Dissemination of findings among policy makers and general public
(38:00) Challenges of having pursued a Multidisciplinary PhD
(47:00) Roles both in academia and in policy making complementing each other
(54:00) Role as the Vice President of the Portuguese Association for Health Economics
Sources: 
Lopes FV, Ravesteijn B, Van Ourti T, Riumallo-Herl C. Income inequalities beyond access to mental health care: a Dutch nationwide record-linkage cohort study of baseline disease severity, treatment intensity, and mental health outcomes. Lancet Psychiatry. 2023 Aug;10(8):588-597.
Lopes FV, Riumallo Herl CJ, Mackenbach JP, Van Ourti T. Patient cost-sharing, mental health care and inequalities: A population-based natural experiment at the transition to adulthood. Soc Sci Med. 2022 Mar;296:114741. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114741. Epub 2022 Jan 29. PMID: 35144223.
 

Episode 9: Jannis Stöckel: Subjective Perspectives f(or) objective truths. Is perception reality?

Guest: Jannis Stöckel 
Hosts: Fanny Tallgren and Prithviraj Basu Mallik 
 
In this episode we are happy to have Jannis Stöckel chatting with us about his working paper titled "Staying Sick but Feeling Better? – The Impact of Health Shocks on Health Perceptions and Behaviors" co-authored with Pieter Bakx and Bram Wouterse. Draft is available upon request. He is working both at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Health Economics section of ESHPM and at the London School of Economics LSE Health research centre. He also shares with us his experiences of presenting at conferences such as the Essen Health conference. We discuss the pros and cons of going to small versus larger conferences, and what to email another research that you would like to meet up with at a conference. He also gives lots of advice for PhDs and young researchers. More tips are also available upon request! 
 
Timestamps: 
 
(2:20) - Introduction to Jannis' PhD dissertation 
(4:55) - Discussion of Jannis' working paper  
(22:10) - What are optimal choices?  
(25:30) - Jannis' experience presenting at conferences  
(32:39) - Template for contacting another researcher before a conference 
(34:30) - Jannis' experience working in academia at both Erasmus University Rotterdam and LSE 
(39:42) - The benefits of doing a research visit  
(42:08) - General tips for PhDs and young researchers 

Episode 8: Ava Hoogenboom, Loss aversion in EQ-5D-Y-3L

Guest: Ava Hoogenboom (PhD student at ESHPM)
Hosts: María-José Mendoza and Karen Trujillo Jara
Short description: On this episode, Ava discusses her research titled “Loss aversion in EQ-5D-Y-3L: does it explain differences in willingness to trade-off life duration in adult and child perspectives?”, which was awarded at the 4th EuroQol Early Career Researcher Meeting.
Timestamps
(4:35) - Gap addressed in the paper
(5:43) - Definition of loss aversion
(11:37) - Further research on loss aversion
(15:42) - Challenges during the design and implementation of the study
(21:22) - Audience/participants at EuroQol ‘s Early Career Researcher Meeting.
(22:54) - Experience of being a PhD student
Source:
Hoogenboom, A.F. H., Lipman, S.A. (2024). Loss aversion in EQ-5D-Y-3L: does it explain differences in willingness to trade-off life duration in adult and child perspectives? EsCHER Working Paper Series No. 2024002, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Available from: workingpapers | Erasmus University Rotterdam (eur.nl)

Episode 7: Nikkil Sudharsanan, Patient influence on clinician behavior

Guest: Nikkil Sudharsanan (Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Munich)
Hosts: María-José Mendoza and Fanny Tallgren
Short description:  On this episode Prof. Nikkil Sudharsanan shares some insights related to his paper on patient's influence on clinician behavior in the context of hypertension screening in India.
Timestamps
(03:29)- Research summary (motivation, set-up, findings)
(13:27)- Putting findings into perspective 
(19:06)- Potential of non-financial incentives
(27:46)- Presenting findings to different audiences
(32:35)- Where to place your research? Tips!
Paper/Links:
Working paper "Under-Delivery of Preventive Care and Patient Influence on Clinician Behavior: Evidence from India" (link)
Book chapter "Behavioral Science and Noncommunicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries" (link)

Episode 6. Callum Brindley, waiting times in hospitals and GBD Study.

Guest: Callum Brindley
Hosts: Fanny Tallgren and Karen Trujillo Jara
Short description:  In this episode Callum discusses with us about his paper on the effect of hospital spending on waiting times and findings from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study.
Timestamps:
(2:09) - Paper on waiting times. How changes in hospital spending might affect hospital activity (i.e. admission of patients).
(7:07) - Thoughts on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021
(11:08) - Explanation and findings of mortality concentration in the GBD Study
(13:31) - Life expectancy
 (23:54) - Tips for PhD candidates
(30:30) - Podcasts recommended
Sources:
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Global Burden of Disease 2021: Findings from the GBD 2021 Study. Seattle, WA: IHME, 2024.
Callum Brindley, James Lomas & Luigi Siciliani (2023) - The effect of hospital spending on waiting times - Health Economics (United Kingdom), 32 (11), 2427-2445 - doi: 10.1002/hec.4735O
List of podcasts:
Race & Health Podcast
IHME Global Health Insights
Lancet Voice
BMJ Podcast (including series on Decolonising health and medicine)
WHO Global Health Matters and Science in 5
ABC Health Report
BBC Health Check
John Hopkins Public Health on Call
The Mixtape with Scott
Choiceology
Nature Podcast
No Such Thing As A Fish