Tackling study-work chasm: Perceptions of the role of mentorship in the healthcare workplace

Background: Young healthcare professionals (HCPs) are often exposed to stress, shifting duties, and sedentary lifestyles, predisposing them to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Objectives: To assess the prevalence of MetS and its components in young HCPs working in a university hospital in Dhaka. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 180 young (aged 18-34 years) HCPs were screened by non-probability sampling (39% physician, 61% nurses, 75% female, 49% overweight/obese) as part of a diabetes screening program by Study on Diabetes and Obesity in Young (SODY) group, Department of Endocrinology, Bangladesh Medical University, during Sep’23-Feb’24. The consensus definition developed by the International Diabetes Federation and the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in 2009 was used to define MetS. Results: Among the young HCPs, 46 of 180 [25.6% (95% CI 19.4-32.6)] had MetS. The physicians had a prevalence of 37%, and nurses 18%. Abdominal obesity was present in 66%, while reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, elevated fasting plasma glucose, and elevated blood pressure were present in 36%, 27%, 13%, and 22% of the participants, respectively. HCPs with MetS had relatively higher age (median, 31 vs. 26 years), higher frequency of male gender (44% vs. 19%), overweight/obesity (91% vs. 48%), and upper monthly income tertiles (48% vs. 31%) compared to the non-MetS group (p<0.05 for all). Conclusions: One in four young HCPs had MetS, with abdominal obesity as the most common component. [J Assoc Clin Endocrinol Diabetol Bangladesh, January 2026; 5(1): 21-27]

Health care professionals are ageing, and there is a severe, global need to attract future employees. This study examines the construction of employer brand image among young health care professionals, and related elements. The qualitative research data were collected through email and personal interviews from young nursing and physician students. The analysis results indicate that organisations can affect their employer brand image for future employees through supportive working culture and human resource practices as well as direct marketing actions. The marketing and human resource practices targeted towards young health care professionals are underused. The results can help health care organisations in planning recruitment and marketing processes according to young health care professionals' expectations. This study integrates human resource management research and marketing research relating to employer branding and recruitment.

Background In recent years, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo have witnessed a notable increase in the number of skilled individuals, including healthcare professionals, seeking employment outside the country. Objective This paper’s research objective is to determine the factors influencing the brain drain of young individuals who work abroad based on the migration push and pull factors of healthcare professionals in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Methods This paper combines a qualitative and quantitative research design. Data was generated via a questionnaire addressed to 300 young healthcare professionals. In addition, logistic regression was selected to evaluate future migration intentions. Results One of this paper’s main findings is that young healthcare professionals cannot make a sound judgment on whether remuneration in the destination country will improve their situation. Conclusions The absence of accounting literacy is one of the main factors in young professionals’ poor judgment. The negative correlation between home country opportunities and migration intentions appeals to significant reforms in the health care sector to deter brain drain from the Western Balkan region.

Background:Young healthcare professionals (HCPs) are the pillar of healthcare system. The objective of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of young HCPs regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reporting.Methods:This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on young HCPs in a tertiary care teaching hospital of North India. The study instrument was semi-structured, prevalidated questionnaire. The responses obtained were compared among doctors and nursing professionals.Results:We obtained response from 84 HCPs (61 doctors and 23 nurses). The mean age of the doctors and nurses was 25.0 ± 2.4 versus 26.3 ± 3.4 years, respectively. No significant difference was observed in questions related to definition of ADR, components of pharmacovigilance (PV), who can report ADRs and medications for which ADRs are to be reported. Only 9.8% doctors and 26.1% nurses were aware of ADR reporting system in India, of which 6 (26%) nurses and none of the doctors were aware of its name. About 16.4% doctors as compared to 61% nurses admitted to have reported an ADR (P < 0.001). The main discouraging factor in ADR reporting was time constraint while lack of knowledge was also highlighted by the HCPs. More nurses as compared to doctors (78.3% vs. 49.2%, P = 0.01) were of the opinion that holding continuing medical education/workshop could encourage reporting.Conclusion:There is an urgent need to increase awareness about PV among young HCPs, and adequate interventions should be instituted to encourage PV practices.

Opioid-Abusing Health Care Professionals: Options for Treatment and Returning to Work After Treatment

Diversion in the workplace can adversely impact the safety of healthcare professionals and patients. The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) believes that substance use disorder, diversion in the workplace, and their potential adverse effects on patient safety need to be addressed through open discussion, education, research, policy, and possible other interventions. To make progress in this area, the APSF convened a conference entitled "Drug Diversion in the Anesthesia Profession: How Can APSF Help Everyone Be Safe?" in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 7, 2017 (Supplemental Digital Content, Document, http://links.lww.com/AA/C616). It was comoderated by the authors.

BackgroundCurrent health care education methods in Pakistan use traditional media (eg, television and radio), community health workers, and printed materials, which often fall short of reach and engagement among most of the population. The health care sector in Pakistan has not yet used social media effectively to raise awareness and provide education about diseases. Research on the impact social media can have on health care education in Pakistan may expand current efforts, engage a wider audience, and reduce the disease burden on health care facilities.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the perceptions of health care professionals and paramedic staff regarding social media use to raise awareness and educate people about diseases as a potential means of reducing the disease burden in Pakistan.MethodsThe study used two-stage structural equation modeling (SEM). Data analysis used AMOS 26.0 software, adopting scales from previous literature. Four-item scales for each social media usefulness and health awareness construct and 8-item scales for health care education constructs were adopted on the basis of their higher loading in alignment with psychometric literature. A 7-point Likert scale was used to measure each item. Data collection used convenience sampling, with questionnaires distributed to more than 450 health care professionals and paramedic staff from 2 private hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. There were 389 useful responses received. However, 340 completed questionnaires were included in the data analysis.ResultsThe study found that all the squared multiple correlation (SMC) values were greater than 0.30. Furthermore, convergent validity was measured using (1) standardized factor loading (found greater than 0.5), (2) average variance explained (found greater than 0.5), and (3) composite reliability (found greater than 0.7). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the measurement model indicated the fitness of the constructs (Chi-square minimum [CMIN]=357.62; CMIN/degrees of freedom [DF]=1.80; Goodness of Fit [GFI]=0.90; Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index [AGFI]=0.89; Buntler-Bonett Normed Fit Index [NFI]=0:915; Comparative Fit Index [CFI]=0:93; Root Mean Square Residual [RMR]=0:075; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation [RMSEA]=0:055). Moreover, the structural model fitness was also confirmed (CMIN=488.6; CMIN/DF=1.85; GFI=0.861; AGFI=0.893; NFI=0.987; CFI=0.945; RMR=0:079; RMSEA=0.053). Hence, the results indicated that social media usefulness has a positive and significant effect on health awareness (hypothesis 1: β=.669, P<.001), and health awareness has a positive and significant effect on health care education in Pakistan (hypothesis 2: β=.557, P<.001).ConclusionsThis study concludes that health care professionals and paramedic staff in private hospitals support the use of social media to raise awareness and provide health care education. It is considered an effective tool for reducing the disease burden in Pakistan. The study results also revealed that young health care professionals are more inclined toward social media usage and express the need for legislation to support it and establish a monitoring process to avoid misinformation.

The Impact of Primary Mentors and Career Development Committees on Junior Faculty Productivity in a Pediatric Academic Health Center

To evaluate the intensity of grief experienced by health care professionals (HPs) after the death of a child, to explore factors associated with a memorable death (defined as an unforgettable child's death that has touched them in their career) and to identify the needs of HPs. A cross-sectional study was performed to assess emotional reactions, coping strategies and perceived needs of paediatric HPs in a general hospital. One hundred one HPs (46 nurses, 22 paediatric physicians, 11 paediatric residents, 13 respiratory therapists and nine 'others') completed the questionnaire. The level of grief experienced by HPs after a memorable death was intense. Respiratory therapists showed the highest mean (± SD) intensity of grief after a memorable death versus other HPs, as measured by the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) (29±15 versus 16±14; P=0.002). Younger HPs (20 to 25 years of age) reported higher early grief intensity than older ones (older than 50 years of age) (22±16 versus 10±8; P=0.01). There was no significant association between the TRIG score and an HP being a parent, having received palliative care training or the length of his/her relationship with the child and family. Seventy per cent of HPs spoke with their colleagues after the death of a child and 48% with family and friends. Many participants (37%) believed that this social support helped them the most. Grief after a child's death is intense for HPs. This emotional intensity and difference between professions raises issues about the emotional support received following the death of a patient.

ObjectivesPotentially inappropriate medication (PIM) occurs frequently and is a well-known risk factor for adverse drug events, but its incidence is underestimated in internal medicine. The objective of this study was...

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) working to save lives during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are under tremendous physical and psychological pressure, therefore facing the risk of developing challenges with mental health. This study aimed primarily to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress among HCPs in a tertiary hospital in Lagos State during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between June and July 2021 among 1452 doctors and nurses in LASUTH, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, selected by the multistage sampling method. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Perceived Stress Scale, respectively. The majority of respondents were female (72.5%), with two-thirds being nurses. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was 9.8%, 5.0% and 62.4%, respectively. Nurses showed a higher prevalence of these mental health conditions as compared with doctors. Younger HCPs, nurses, those that lost a colleague to COVID-19, and those whose family members were infected with COVID-19 were more likely to be depressed. Nurses and those afraid of being infected were more likely to experience anxiety. Younger HCPs, nurses, history of anxiety and/or depression and previous COVID-19 infection were identified as factors associated with stress. Stress was the most prevalent mental health condition with nurses being the most affected of the HCPs and at a greater risk of developing challenges with mental health. Psychosocial interventions and stress management techniques are recommended to minimise the risks. This study adds to the few studies on the mental health of HCPs during COVID-19 and calls for in-depth surveys to understand psychosocial challenges among HCPs in Nigeria.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health care professionals have worked in morally challenging situations. The aim of this research was to investigate the predictors of moral injury in United Kingdom frontline health care professionals working in a variety of roles 2 years after the onset of the pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted January 25-February 28, 2022. A total of 235 participants answered sociodemographic, employment, health, COVID-19-related questions, and the 10-item Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Healthcare Professional version. Nearly three quarters had experienced moral injury. Twelve significant predictors of moral injury were entered into a backward elimination binominal logistic regression. The final model included five independent predictors that explained 25.4% variance in moral injury (χ 2 [5, N = 235] = 45.7, p < 0.001). Odds of moral injury were significantly raised in young health care professionals (<31 years), smokers, and those reporting low workplace confidence, not feeling appreciated, and feeling burned out. The findings support interventions to relieve moral injury in frontline health care professionals.

Dementia care: Research and clinical innovation.

Background and Objectives: Cardiac patients are particularly at risk of herpes zoster (HZ), which is associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events. This research aimed to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) among cardiac healthcare professionals (HPs). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a cardiological hospital in Italy. Multivariate regression models were built to identify factors associated with the outcomes of interest. Results: The response rate was 78.2% (154/197). Overall, age > 50 years and immunosuppression were recognized as risk factors for HZ by 38.3% and 75.3% of respondents, respectively. Regarding RZV, 29.1% of the HPs correctly responded about its schedule and 57.6% about the possibility of administration in immunocompromised individuals. This knowledge was significantly higher in HPs with a higher educational level (odds ratio (OR) = 4.42; 95%CI 1.70-11.47), in those who knew that HZ could cause postherpetic neuralgia (OR = 2.56; 95%CI 1.05-6.25) or major cardiovascular events (OR = 4.23; 95%CI 1.50-11.91), in those who had participated in professional updates on vaccinations (OR = 3.86; 95%CI 1.51-9.87) and in those who stated the need for further information about the RZV (OR = 6.43; 95%CI 1.42-29.98). Younger HPs (coefficient (β) = -0.02; 95%CI -0.04--0.01), those with a positive attitude toward RZV safety (β = 2.92; 95%CI 2.49-3.36) and those who had previously cared for patients with HZ (β = 0.45; 95%CI 0.03-0.88) reported a more positive attitude toward RZV effectiveness. The practice of recommending vaccination was more prevalent in younger HPs (OR = 0.94; 95%CI 0.89-0.99), in those who had a master's degree or higher education (OR = 7.21; 95%CI 1.44-36.08), in those with more positive attitudes toward RZV effectiveness (OR = 7.17; 95%CI 1.71-30.03) and in HPs who had already recommended the vaccine to patients in the past (OR = 4.03; 95%CI 1.08-14.96). Conclusions: Despite being a single-center study, our research brings attention to factors that currently impact cardiac HPs' approaches to RZV. The findings indicate potential measures to enhance HPs' awareness and practices, ultimately aiming to improve vaccination adherence and reduce the burden associated with HZ.

Background: When exposed to equal radiation doses, the risks for children and adolescents are more significant than for adults. Children grow quickly, and their cells are more sensitive to radiation. After radiation exposure, children have a higher risk of developing malignancies such as leukemia, thyroid abnormalities, and various types of cancers. The healthcare professionals’ (in this context referring to medical doctors at all levels) awareness of imaging modalities associated with ionizing radiation is essential to ensure optimal patient management of cooperation in dealing with radiation exposure. Therefore, the present study is aimed to evaluate the awareness of healthcare professionals on medical imaging-related radiation exposure in the pediatric population in our center, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare professionals using self-administered validated questionnaires in a university hospital for a duration of seven months. Healthcare professionals of all levels participated in this survey. Results: A total of 145 healthcare professionals participated in this study. More than half of the respondents are house officers, 57.2% (n = 83). Results indicated that only 6 out of 145 healthcare professionals who participated in this survey had attended a radiation protection course. This survey showed that 37.2% of the respondents were unaware that chest radiographs would expose patients to ionizing radiation. Finally, results also indicated that senior doctors (21 out of 24 participants) showed better awareness of radiation protection knowledge. Conclusions: In general, healthcare professionals in our institution are inadequate in awareness of medical radiation exposure, particularly among house officers. However, the awareness of radiation safety and exposure improves with the number of years of clinical practice. We propose that some younger healthcare professionals do not take radiation safety seriously. Moreover, we would like to suggest all healthcare professionals must attend a radiation safety course, as we expect this will improve patient outcomes.