Introduction
The covid-19 pandemic exerts severe pressure on health systems worldwide and creates stressful working conditions for healthcare workers.
Objectives
The aim of this study, which used the ...focus group method, was to investigate the psychosocial experiences of the healthcare personnel working in covid-19 wards.
Methods
An interview guide was specially designed and the sample consisted of twelve frontline healthcare workers. Data analysis was based on the empirically grounded theory and thematic analysis was used as a method.
Results
One overarching theme called “Threat” and three main themes were identified: a) Nature of the disease, b) Interpersonal relationships at the hospital, and c) Challenges-Interventions. The concept of “Threat” is dominant throughout the discussion and transcends every issue of the analysis. The first main theme “Nature of the disease” refers to the fear of infection and spread of the virus in the professionals’ environment, the existential concerns brought to the surface by the fear of death, as well as the stigma experienced by health professionals as “potential carriers” of the coronavirus. The second main theme “Interpersonal relationships at the hospital” concerns the relationships developed both among health staff and between health professionals and patients in response to the challenges of the epidemic. The third main theme concerns the obstacles that health professionals face in carrying out their work, the strategies they adopt to deal with stressful situations, but also the type of institutional support they need.
Conclusions
Hospital staff training on the biomedical developments about covid-19 as well as face-to-face self-help groups are recommended.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
BACKGROUNDhealth workers are one of the groups affected physically as well as psychologically from the pandemic. Recent studies showed many of the health workers reported experiencing anxiety, ...depression, and insomnia. This study aims to identify psychotherapy as a psychological health intervention, for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODSan evidence based clinical review of psychotherapy as a psychological health intervention, reported in the literature, which is developed for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review was conducted following set out for Evidence-based clinical review by searching the following digital libraries: PubMed, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. RESULTSsix publications were selected. The identified psychotherapy used as a mental or psychological intervention for healthcare workers during COVID-19 consists of supportive psychotherapy, psychoeducation, social support, and music therapy. Overall, it shows that psychotherapy, especially supportive psychotherapy, can reduce anxiety, depression, and insomnia. CONCLUSIONthe physiological condition of health workers needs to get attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there is no standard of therapy yet, psychotherapy could be an option as it is proven to be able to reduce anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Insufficient knowledge about protection and care of the skin among Danish hospital cleaners, particularly immigrant cleaners, is guessed to be a widespread issue that can increase the likelihood of ...them developing occupational hand eczema (OHE). This study aimed to design and validate 10 pictograms and 10 short video clips showing recommendations for skin care that would help prevent OHE among professional cleaners.
Ten pictograms and 10 short, educational video clips, based on standard, recommended information were developed in collaboration with a medical illustrator and a video director. The materials were validated in a two-step process that included bus drivers (primary validation) and professional cleaners (secondary validation).
During the primary validation, 5 of the 10 pictograms (50%) were comprehended correctly by at least 85%. Those that were misinterpreted, were modified and retested several times until they were understood correctly by at least 85%. During the secondary validation, all 10 pictograms achieved acceptable levels of comprehension among professional cleaners. All the video clips were comprehended correctly by both bus drivers and cleaners.
Ten easy-to-understand pictograms and 10 educational video clips for cleaners about the prevention of OHE have been designed and validated.
The escalating global prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals poses a serious health concern. Recent studies focus on prevalence and predictors of burnout among healthcare providers, ...emphasizing the need for well-being interventions. This study investigates burnout and coping mechanisms among healthcare professionals in central Uganda, addressing the dearth of knowledge about coping strategies specific to the region.
An analytical facility cross-sectional study was conducted in five healthcare facilities in central Uganda between June to July 2023. Participants included physicians, nurses, and technicians actively engaged in direct patient care. Data were collected using socio-demographic surveys, the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL-5), and the Brief-COPE tools.
The study revealed a high prevalence of burnout, with 39.8% of participants experiencing significant levels. Active coping, positive reframing, and denial were negatively correlated with low burnout levels. Dysfunctional coping, specifically self-distraction and denial, showed positive correlations with average and high burnout levels. Emotion-focused coping mechanisms were not employed across burnout levels.
The results emphasize the demanding nature of healthcare roles in the region and highlight the need for comprehensive, context-specific interventions to address burnout globally. While some healthcare professionals utilized adaptive strategies such as seeking social support, engaging in self-care activities, and utilizing problem-solving skills, others resorted to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as substance use and avoidance behaviors. This dichotomy highlights the need for targeted interventions to promote adaptive coping strategies and mitigate the negative impact of maladaptive behaviors on individual well-being and patient care.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of becoming infected with
complex (Mtbc).
To assess the magnitude of Mtbc transmission by children under the age of 15 years to HCW.
Medline, Google ...Scholar and Cochrane library were searched to select primary studies in which a child was the presumed index case and exposed HCW were screened for latent TB infection (LTBI).
Of 4,702 abstracts, 15 original case reports covering 16 children with TB were identified. In sum, 1,395 HCW were contact persons and underwent testing. Ten of the studies reported TST conversion, amounting to 35 (2.9%) of the 1,228 HCW tested. In three of the TST-based and both of the studies that used IGRA testing, conversion was absent. 12 of the 15 studies (80%) reported exposure of HCW in neonatal intensive units (NICUs) to premature infants suffering from congenital pulmonary TB. One study including two infants addressed possible pulmonary Mtbc transmission in a general pediatric ward. Extrapulmonary transmission by aerosolized Mtbc was suggested in two patients, an infant with tuberculous peritonitis and a 12-year-old adolescent with pleurisy, and culture-confirmed only after the child had undergone video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Routine use of protective facemasks by HCW before exposure was not mentioned in any of the included studies.
The results suggest that the risk of Mtbc transmission from children to HCW is low. Particular attention should be paid to infection risk during respiratory manipulations in NICUs. The consistent wearing of facemasks may further reduce the risk of Mtbc transmission.
Background: With the onset of the coronavirus crisis, the medical treatment staffs were at the forefront of dealing with the disease. The lived experiences in the face of this disease can help better ...manage the epidemic and identify organizational and individual barriers and challenges. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of medical staff working in COVID- 19 wards in Shiraz teaching hospitals.Methods: The present study is a qualitative study conducted in 2021-2022. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. Eighteen nurses, physicians, and health workers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were employed for the interview. The snowball sampling technique based on the target group was used. Data were analyzed by The Colaizzi seven-step analysis method.Results: Three themes, including “tensions”, “material and spiritual support”, and “pleasant feeling” and eight sub-themes were extracted. The sub themes were “resilience”, “insufficient knowledge”, “depression”, “expressing gratitude by friends”, “public attention”, “organizational support”, “feeling proud”, and “altruism”.Conclusion: The present study shows that COVID- 19 caused a lot of pressure on the medical staff during the pandemic, which led to psychological and emotional damage. On the other hand, material and spiritual support played an important role in reducing distress in times of crisis.
Backgroud: The difficulty of curbing the incidence of HIV has long been associated with stigma, which has been linked to the lack of knowledge, poor attitudes, and discriminatory behaviours of ...healthcare workers. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and care barriers of healthcare workers from highly urbanised cities towards HIV/AIDS. Methods: A total of 171 healthcare workers in Leyte province were included in the study. The study utilized a self-report questionnaire and was conducted in the early quarter of 2021. Spearman rank-order correlation analysis was employed to answer the study's hypotheses. Results: Results revealed that the participants have moderate knowledge of HIV/AIDS and good work attitudes but have prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviors toward their HIV/AIDS-related care. Furthermore, it was found that there is a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude, as well as attitude toward behaviors. Notably, results revealed no correlation between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and perceived behaviors. Conclusion: It can be concluded that health workers in highly urbanized cities like Leyte province have essential knowledge, attitude, and behaviors in providing care to clients suspected or confirmed of HIV/AIDS. A good attitude towards HIV suggests a likelihood of a health care provider having sufficient knowledge of HIV and practising caring behaviors.
Objective: To identify the effect of workplace health promotion activities (WHPA) on the health status of health personnel. Methodology: A systematic literature review was performed. Six computerized ...databases were used to search for studies on the effect of at least one health promotion activity on the health status of health personnel. Studies were included if they were published in peer-reviewed and indexed journals and were written either in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Information such as study population, sample size, type of study, outcome, and health promotion activities performed were extracted from each publication. All the included articles were measured in terms of their methodological quality, including the risk of bias. Results: Lower scores on perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and mood symptoms were reported. An improvement in sleep hours and quality and a reduction in dietary sodium intake were informed. Improvements in participants’ dietary habits, weight loss, and body fat percentage, along with increased physical activity and a reduction in pain levels were reported. A reduction in the prevalence of cigarette smoking was found. Conclusions: WHPAs can enhance physical and mental health, and overall well-being, and encouraging healthier behaviors among health personnel. Most of the studies targeting mental health focused their efforts primarily on reducing healthcare workers’ perceived stress. WHPAs that addressed both diet and physical activity behaviors were more effective at improving weight outcomes than those that used only one approximation. Overall, this study offers valuable information on the impact of worksite-based health promotion interventions, including the effect of different strategies applied.
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