abstract: 'The global burden of disease (GBD) has been measured primarily through

  the use of the DALY metric. Using this approach, preliminary estimates

  were that 11\% of the GBD is surgical. However, prior work has

  questioned specific aspects of the GBD methodology as well as its

  practicality. This paper refines other conceptual approaches based on

  met and unmet population need for services by considering incident and

  prevalent need as well as backlogs for treatment that can inform

  effective coverage of services. Some of these methods are tested using

  the example of surgical repair of cleft lip and palate. Measurement of

  disability incurred by delays in care may also be estimated through

  these approaches and has not previously been estimated through a

  validated model. These concepts may provide more practical information

  for individuals and organizations to advocate for scaling up surgical

  programs. While many surgical conditions are unique, as a single

  intervention can lead to cure, these concepts may also prove useful for

  non-surgical diseases. Further exploration of these approaches is

  merited in resource-limited settings. (C) 2014 Surgical Associates Ltd.

  Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.'
affiliation: 'Ozgediz, D (Corresponding Author), Yale Univ, New Haven, CT 06520 USA.

  Poenaru, Dan, Queens Univ, Kingston, ON, Canada.

  Ozgediz, Doruk, Yale Univ, New Haven, CT 06520 USA.'
author: Poenaru, Dan and Ozgediz, Doruk and Gosselin, Richard A.
author-email: dozgediz@hotmail.com
author_list:
- family: Poenaru
  given: Dan
- family: Ozgediz
  given: Doruk
- family: Gosselin
  given: Richard A.
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.01.021
eissn: 1743-9159
files: []
issn: 1743-9191
journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY
keywords: 'Burden of disease; Surgery; Low and middle-income countries; Access to

  care; Disparities; Health policy; Metrics; Backlog; Effective coverage'
keywords-plus: SIERRA-LEONE; CARE; DISABILITY
language: English
number: '5'
number-of-cited-references: '17'
orcid-numbers: Poenaru, Dan/0000-0002-6267-6140
pages: 483-486
papis_id: 97791a808491fb2f403b1fcfd03e92fd
ref: Poenaru2014burdenneed
researcherid-numbers: Poenaru, Dan/S-2562-2017
times-cited: '22'
title: 'Burden, need, or backlog: A call for improved metrics for the global burden
  of surgical disease'
type: Editorial Material
unique-id: WOS:000336490600021
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '1'
volume: '12'
web-of-science-categories: Surgery
year: '2014'