Affecting Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Health Risk Assessment and Covid-19 Infection Rate by Using Bacterial Aerosol in Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Thailand During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a worldwide transmission and healthcare worker is the risk group. Therefore, the infection rate and health risk assessment from exposure to airborne transmission for healthcare workers were performed. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 106 healthcare workers at four selected service areas in Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand, from February to September 2021. The N6 impactor was used with simultaneous measurement of temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The general characteristics of subjects and hospitals were collected by questionnaire and presented by descriptive statistics. Results: Most of the participants were female and they worked more than 8 hours per day. The bacteria concentration was highest in the Pediatric Outpatient Department (1837.46±177.52 cfu/m3). The lowest chronic daily intake and hazard quotient with no threshold (4.86±3.81, 95%CI: 3.59, 6.13) were at Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit - due to negative pressure ventilation in this room was effective in reducing the airborne concentration of the pathogens. Overall, the hospital’s hazard index with no threshold (30.87±35.25, 95%CI: 23.91, 37.83) was higher than 1.0, indicating that bacterial bioaerosol may affect healthcare workers’ health. The highest confirmed Covid-19 case was at Acute Respiratory Infection Clinic (19.29±10.67 cases/week). The probability of infection by SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers was high at Acute Respiratory Infection Clinic (1.0) and Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit (0.998±0.002, 95%CI: 0.998, 0.999). Conclusion: Therefore, inhalation reference concentration for hospitals should be as low as possible and appropriate ventilation systems should be implemented with adherence to standards to protect healthcare workers.

Development of a Moral Resilience Collaborative Program During a Pandemic.

Elevated psychological stress can lead to moral distress affecting health care workers and organizations affecting patient care, job satisfaction, and retention. A Moral Resilience Collaborative program was implemented through an academic partnership between a school of nursing and a rehabilitation facility to provide the health care workers in the facility the skills necessary for self-management of moral distress and move them toward moral resilience. Moral distress and resiliency were measured pre-implementation using the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) and Short Resiliency Survey (SRS), respectively. Unfortunately, postsurvey quantitative data collection failed due to COVID-19 surges though qualitative data obtained during debriefing sessions demonstrated effectiveness of the project. Based on debriefing comments and the preimplementation MMD-HP mean score and SRS decompression score, the staff in this facility experienced similar types of moral distress as those working in acute care or critical care settings. Even when resiliency programs are needed the most and readily available, patient care demands, a busy work environment, and external factors can hinder staff participation in such endeavors.

Does workplace violence affect healthcare workers' turnover intention?

This study aimed to explore the association between workplace violence and turnover intention among Chinese healthcare workers and explore the role of gender as a moderator in this relation. A cross-sectional survey recruited 692 healthcare workers from a single center in a Chinese province. The content included a questionnaire regarding workplace violence, authoritarian leadership, and turnover intention. The moderated mediation effects were analyzed using the PROCESS tool in SPSS and bootstrap method was used to extract 5000 samples to estimate the 95% confidence interval of each effect. The results indicated that the effect of workplace violence on turnover intention was mediated by authoritarian leadership. In addition, gender moderated the association between authoritarian leadership and turnover intention. Healthcare worker managers should establish a workplace violence intervention system and change the leadership style of direct leaders to reduce healthcare workers' turnover intention.

Self-reported long COVID-19 symptoms are rare among vaccinated healthcare workers

IntroductionCOVID-19 pandemic adversely affected healthcare workers (HCWs). Here, we evaluate the occurence of long-COVID-19 symtoms among HCWs. MethodsThis is a questionnaire-based study of HCWs who had COVID-19 in two medical centers in Saudi Arabia and were mostly vaccinated. ResultsThe study included 243 HCWs with a mean age (+ SD) of 36.1 (+ 7.6) years. Of them, 223 (91.8%) had three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 12 (4.9%) had four doses, and 5 (2.1%) had two doses. The most common symptoms at the start of the illness were cough (180, 74.1%), shortness of breath (124, 51%), muscle ache (117, 48.1%), headache (113, 46.5%), sore throat (111, 45.7%), diarrhea (109, 44.9%) and loss of taste (108, 44.4%). Symptoms lasted for< one week in 117 (48.1%),> one week and< 1 month in 89 (36.6%),> 2 months and< 3 months in 9 (3.7%), and> 3 months in 15 (6.2%). The main symptoms present> 3 months were hair loss (8, 3.3%), cough (5, 2.1%), and diarrhea (5, 2.1%). A binomial regression analysis showed no relationship between persistence of symptoms for> 3 months and other demographic or clinical symptoms characteristics. ConclusionThe study showed a low rate of the occurence of long-COVID> 3 months during the Omicron-wave among mostly vaccinated HCWs with no significant comorbidities. Furhter studies are needed to examine the effect of different vaccines on long-COVID-19 among HCWs.

Silent Sufferers: The Prevalence and Impact of Depression in Health Care Professionals

Objective: Aim was to determine the prevalence and impact of depression among health care professionals. Study Design: Observational study Place and Duration: Pak Red Crescent Medical College &amp; Teaching Hospital,Dina Nath, Kasur, Punjab in the duration from October, 2022 to March, 2023. Methods: Total 213 health care professionals were presented in this study. All the presented cases were aged between 18-50 years. Included cases were both doctors and nurses. All the cases were included after taking informed written consent. In addition to a validated semi-structured questionnaire, participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Frequency of depression and its severity among all cases were assessed. SPSS 22.0 was used to analyze all data. Results: There were 128 (60.1%) males and 85 (39.9%) females among all cases. 77 (45.5%) cases were aged between 18-30 years, 65 (30.5%) cases had age 31-40 years and 51 (23.9%) patients had age 41-50 years. 131 (61.5%) cases had poor socio-economic status. 125 (58.7%) health care professionals were nurses and 88 (41.3%) cases were doctors. We found that 110 (51.6%) cases had depression, 56 (26.3%) cases had stress and anxiety found in 47 (22.1%) cases. In 110 cases of depression, severity found in 42 cases. Poor sleep quality was found in 134 (62.9%) cases in which 85 cases had depression, 27 cases had stress 22 cases had stress. Conclusion: We concluded in this study that the depression rate in health care professionals was found high in which nurses were higher in numbers than doctors. To prevent and treat the frequent mental health issues that affect healthcare workers, a thorough, global approach is required. Keywords: Depression, Health Care Professionals, Anxiety, Stress, Poor Sleep

Healthcare Providers' Experiences of Caring for Patients With COVID-19 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support.

Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) affected healthcare workers (HCW) in ways more than increasing the volume of patients needing care. Increased numbers of patients at younger ages required support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Providing this care requires an interdisciplinary team. This study explored the experiences of HCW caring for patients with COVID-19 on ECMO. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted via videoconferencing, and transcript comparison was used for the analysis. Open coding of the data generated 7 categories including (1) fearing the unknown, (2) confronting challenges in patient and/or family interactions, (3) encountering barriers to providing care, (4) facing moral distress, (5) working through exhaustion, (6) persevering by strengthening teamwork, (7) and acknowledging frustration with non-believers. HCW balanced pessimism and optimism while caring for patient with COVID-19 on ECMO. They used negative experiences caring for these patients to strength teamwork and bonding among peers. The practice implications for caring for patients with COVID-19 on ECMO include viligance by clinician and organization to protect the wellbeing of healthcare providers, particularly in ICU and ECMO units were moral distress and burnout can be high.

Investigating the factors affecting health care workers’ intention to remain in villages

BackgroundSettlement in a village and being native is one of the special conditions for choosing to be a health care worker as they must be accessible day and night and provide people with health services when needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting health care workers’ intention to remain in villages covered by Jundishapur University, Ahvaz, Iran. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study in 2019. The total number of health workers working at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Iran was 1034, amongst whom 280 individuals participated in this study. The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisted of two parts, in the first part of which there were 11 questions on personal information of the participants. In the second part, a total of six measures (physical, social, educational and cultural, occupational, welfare, personal and family) were used to examine the factors affecting the health workers’ intention to remain in rural areas. ResultsThe results of this study showed that the current residence of 55% of the health workers was villages while 45% of them lived in urban areas. The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between physical, social, educational and cultural, occupational, welfare, personal and family factors and the health workers’ intention to remain in rural areas. Besides, female HCWs were more affected by personal and family factors compared to the male participants. ConclusionIncreasing the quality and paying more attention to physical, social, educational and cultural, occupational, welfare, personal and family factors can cause health workers to remain longer in rural areas.

Impact of COVID-19 on depression and anxiety among healthcare professionals in Abu Dhabi.

COVID-19 has affected Healthcare workers in many ways. One of the important areas is the psychological impact. This study aims to examine the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health of Healthcare Professionals (HCP) and associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare providers in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, between April 11th, and July 23rd, 2020. The study was conducted by using an online anonymous Self-administered questionnaire through the survey monkey platform. A convenient sampling method was used to distribute the online survey link through the organization's email network admin list and smartphone messaging. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and multivariant linear regression were used. Anxiety and depression risk scores were measured in a total of 1268 participants of healthcare providers. More than half of the participants reported symptoms of anxiety (51.5%). Depression symptoms were revealed in 38.3% of participating providers. A mild risk of anxiety was reported in 28.8% of the participants and 12.68% of the participants registered moderate anxiety risk scores and 9.95% reported a severe risk of anxiety. Among all participants, 4.3% and 2.7% reported moderately severe and severe risk of depression, respectively, while 22.5% and 8.8% of the participating healthcare providers documented mild and moderate depression risk. Anxiety and depression risk scores were significantly and negatively associated with age and working in primary health care. The high prevalence of anxiety and depression recorded among HCP during the pandemic suggests that mental health intervention and support are necessary to ensure the psychological well-being of HCP.

Vickybot, a chatbot for anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout

IntroductionA significant proportion of people attending Primary Care (PC) have anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout and there is a lack of resources to attend them. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this problem, particularly affecting healthcare workers, and digital tools have been proposed as a workaround.ObjectivesWe present the development, feasibility and effectiveness studies of chatbot (Vickybot) aimed at screening, monitoring, and reducing anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout in PC patients and healthcare workers.MethodsUser-centered development strategies were adopted. Main functions included self-assessments, psychological modules, and emergency alerts. (1) Simulation: HCs used Vickybot for 2 weeks to simulate different possible clinical situations and evaluated their experience. (3) Feasibility and effectiveness study: People consulting PC or healthcare workers with mental health problems were offered to use Vickybot for one month. Self-assessments for anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) symptoms, and work-related burnout (based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory) were administered at baseline and every two weeks. Feasibility was determined based on the combination of both subjective and objective user-engagement Indicators (UEIs). Effectiveness was measured using paired t-tests as the change in self-assessment scores.Results(1) Simulation: 17 HCs (73% female; mean age=36.5±9.7) simulated different clinical situations. 98.8% of the expected modules were recommended according to each simulation. Suicidal alerts were correctly activated and received by the research team. (2) Feasibility and effectiveness study: 34 patients (15 from PC and 19 healthcare workers; 77% female; mean age=35.3±10.1) completed the first self-assessments, with 34 (100%) presenting anxiety symptoms, 32 (94%) depressive symptoms, and 22 (64.7%) work-related burnout. Nine (26.5%) patients completed the second self-assessments after 2-weeks of use. No significant differences were found for anxiety [t(8) = 1.000, p = 0.347] or depressive [t(8) = 0.400, p = 0.700] symptoms, but work-related burnout was significantly reduced [t(8) = 2.874, p = 0.021] between the means of the first and second self-assessments. Vickybot showed high subjective-UEIs, but low objective-UEIs (completion, adherence, compliance, and engagement).ConclusionsThe chatbot proved to be useful in screening the presence and severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, in reducing work-related burnout, and in detecting suicidal risk. Subjective perceptions of use contrasted with low objective-use metrics. Our results are promising, but suggest the need to adapt and enhance the smartphone-based solution in order to improve engagement. Consensus on how to report UEIs and validate digital solutions, especially for chatbots, are required.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Health and Well-Being of Intensive Care Unit Physicians: How to Ensure the Longevity of a Critical Specialty.

A second epidemic of burnout, fatigue, anxiety, and moral distress has emerged concurrently with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and critical care physicians are especially affected. This article reviews the history of burnout in health care workers, presents the signs and symptoms, discusses the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care unit caregivers, and attempts to identify potential strategies to combat the Great Resignation disproportionately affecting health care workers. The article also focuses on how the specialty can amplify the voices and highlight the leadership potential of underrepresented minorities, physicians with disabilities, and the aging physician population.

Perceived Stress and Psychological Distress among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The advent of COVID-19 has significantly affected healthcare workers’ mental health. This study was conducted to investigate the perceived stress and its relationship with psychological distress among nurses who took care of patients with the COVID-19 disease. This cross-sectional study was performed on 180 nurses in Ardabil province in 2020. Data were collected online through two standard questionnaires, making use of the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Then, data were analysed based on descriptive and analytical statistics using SPSS software version 19 as well as independent t-tests, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression tests. The results of the Spearman’s correlation test indicated that there was a significantly positive correlation (rho = 0.79) between perceived stress and psychological distress (P &lt;0.001). After adjusting the effects of other variables using a multiple linear regression test, the beta correlation coefficient was calculated, and the obtained value of 0.766 was regarded as statistically significant (P &lt;0.001). Moreover, 63.9% of the nurses experienced moderate perceived stress, and 72.6% experienced severe mental disorders. The results of this study demonstrate that high perceived stress is considered as a strong predictor of psychological distress, and also the majority of the nurses working in frontline wards have experienced severe psychological distress. Therefore, it is recommended to take into account the workplace stress and prepare the ground (e.g., through preparing education, identifying at-risk individuals, as well as providing psychotherapy services and social support) to reduce the stress and promote the nurses’ mental health.

Working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in primary and tertiary healthcare: a comparative cross-sectional study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected healthcare workers' (HCWs) health and wellbeing. Most studies on COVID-19 have focused on tertiary healthcare. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge on the effects of the pandemic on working conditions in tertiary and primary healthcare. The comparative cross-sectional study consisted of an online questionnaire sent to HCWs of the City of Helsinki (primary healthcare) and Helsinki University Hospital (tertiary healthcare). Altogether 1580 HCWs with direct patient contact participated in the study: 895 from tertiary and 685 from primary healthcare. Statistical analysis used SPSS 25 from IBM. The tests used were the χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, and binary logistic regression analysis. Primary HCWs were less likely to treat COVID-19 patients (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.37-0.56). However, both groups reported a similar number of COVID-19 infections, primary HCWs 4.9% and tertiary HCWs 5.0%, and workrelated quarantine was significantly more prevalent (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.38-2.79) among primary HCWs. In addition, work-related wellbeing was poorer among primary HCWs than tertiary HCWs in terms of feeling more stressed at work (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 2.55-4.02), not recovering from work (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39-0.62), reported mental wellbeing below normal levels (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.26-2.00), and increased working hours (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.25-2.12). The study demonstrates how the pandemic has affected the wellbeing and working conditions of not only tertiary but also less studied primary HCWs. The authors' findings suggest that the challenges identified during the COVID-19 pandemic in the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers are even greater in primary care than in tertiary care. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):139-50.

Nosocomial Omicron Outbreak in a Medical Ward During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is 2 to 3 times more contagious than the Delta variant and poses a new challenge in containing transmission in community and health care settings. Transmission in hospitals can cause nosocomial outbreak infections and affect patients and health care workers. This study describes a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a medical ward. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the transmission source of the outbreak, as well as the measures implemented to prevent and control it. A cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infections that affected health care workers, inpatients, and caregivers was thoroughly researched in a medical ward. There were several strict outbreak measures implemented in our hospital, and these measures controlled the nosocomial COVID-19 outbreak in this study. Seven cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were diagnosed within 2 days in the medical ward. The infection control team declared a nosocomial outbreak of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Several strict outbreak measures were implemented as follows: 1. The medical ward was closed and cleaning and disinfection were performed. 2. All patients and caregivers with negative test results were transferred to a spare COVID-19 isolation ward. 3. Relatives' visits were not allowed, and no new patient was admitted during the outbreak period. 4. Health care workers were retrained on wearing personal protective equipment and enhanced techniques and practices of hand hygiene, social distancing, and self-monitoring of fever and respiratory symptoms. This outbreak occurred in a non-COVID-19 ward during the COVID-19 Omicron variant phase of the pandemic. Our strict outbreak measures halted and contained the nosocomial COVID-19 outbreak in 10 days. Future studies are needed to establish a standard policy of COVID-19 outbreak measure implementation.

Depression among Health Care Workers in Khartoum State, Sudan, 2022

Introduction: Depression is a serious issue affecting healthcare workers and is a leading cause of disability for both genders. Furthermore, it is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, responsible for 4.4 percent of global disability. An estimated 350 million people are currently living with depression worldwide. Objectives: to estimate the prevalence of depression among healthcare workers in Khartoum State in 2022 and determine the associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers in Khartoum State, Sudan, in 2022 using a self-administered electronic questionnaire. Depression was screened using the self-reporting questionnaire (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages were used to display the data. Odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval were estimated using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine associations between depression and related factors. Results: A total of 341 valid responses were received, with a mean age of 33.91. The overall prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 > 8) was 258 (75.6%). The prevalence was significantly associated with marital status (single and divorced), occupation (psychologist), and working department (Emergency Department), showing a p-value of <0.041. Conclusion: Depression is a serious mental health disorder that affects all people, including healthcare workers, and is a growing problem in Sudan. To address this, healthcare organizations must implement policies and strategies to reduce inequality and protect healthcare workers. A multidisciplinary approach that includes mental health professionals, the Ministry of Health, and universities is needed to prioritize mental health issues and ensure quality care and the overall well-being of both healthcare workers and patients.

Factors Associated with Intention to Resign among Medical Residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Cross-sectional Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected healthcare workers' mental health worldwide, leading to the intention to resign. Japanese medical residents were no exception to the impact of COVID-19. This study aimed to illustrate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected medical residents' intention to resign. A cross-sectional study was conducted for Postgraduate Year (PGY)1-5 medical residents in Japan using an internet survey from March 11 to March 18, 2021. During this survey, the Japanese government declared a second-time state of emergency on January 7, 2021, and all restrictions were expanded nationwide until March 21, 2021. Medical residents were categorized into two groups (intention to resign group [IR] or no intention to resign group [NIR]) based on their intention to resign. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to elucidate the risk factors for the intention to resign. 354 medical residents were enrolled in this study (response rate: 40.2%). Ninety-two medical residents (26.0 %) were categorized into IR and 262 (74.0%) into NIR. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, those who did not have mental support at their hospital had 2.95 times greater chance of intending to resign (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.42-6.15]). Medical residents who engaged in patients with COVID-19 (AOR = 2.13, 95% Cl [1.08-4.18]) and PGY5 (AOR = 3.38, 95% Cl [1.51-7.56]) had a higher likelihood of intending to resign among residents in all PGY. One in four medical residents intended to resign during the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, PGY5 and medical residents who treated patients with COVID-19 were found at risk of having the intention to resign. At times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 epidemic, establishing a mental health support system that targets high-risk residents is critical.

Who Protects Clinical Learners in Canada? Ethical Considerations for Institutional Policy on Patient Bias

Navigating the social dynamics of clinical spaces can be an added challenge to the complexities of clinical work. Acts of bias and discrimination from patients have been found to affect healthcare workers both physically and psychologically. As more attention is paid to addressing discrimination by patients, we raise attention to the experiences and unique needs of clinical learners. Given that learners play a vital role in the functioning of hospital ecosystems, we advocate for the inclusion of their voices in any revision to policy and practice. In this paper, we critically examine the academic literature on learner’s experiences with mistreatment from patients, and their families. We outline the major gaps in policy, process, training, and institutional culture, noting the urgent need for institutions to address these gaps in ways that are meaningful to learners. Our goal is to highlight the lack of bioethics attention to this matter and propose areas where we can add value and support. With this goal in mind, we present a series of tables with guiding values, ethical considerations and questions for institutions.

Medical Doctors' Perceptions of the Media Coverage during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Study in Stockholm.

The strain on healthcare systems including emergency departments increased substantially during the Covid-19 pandemic,negatively affecting healthcare workers and their well-being. The emotional distress experienced by healthcare staff during the pandemic was worsened by confusion and conspiracy theories that circulated in the news and online media. Reports on the pandemic and general consumption of media intensified as the public's demand for information increased. There is limited research on how doctors perceived media coverage, and how they were affected in their work. This study aimed to explore how medical doctors in emergency departments perceived the media coverage during the Covid-19 pandemic. Twelve doctors at two different emergency departments in Stockholm, Sweden, participated. Interview questions on media were asked as part of a more extensive questionnaire. Informants' responses were analysed qualitatively. The results indicate that doctors to some extent used media as a source of information, due to limited access to knowledge about the virus. Results further suggest that media coverage triggered fear of infection, caused worry and job strain. The doctors percieved that the media coverage on Covid-19 affected patient-seeking behaviour as well as the doctor-patient relationship. The findings can be relevant in preparation for future pandemics and considered in development of policy for media and emergency departments.

Noise exposure in healthcare workers

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of noise in hospitals on healthcare workers, to develop recommendations for reducing noise in hospitals and to show why healthcare workers should be protected from noise exposure in hospitals. The study included a total of 80 healthcare workers from different units of the hospital who volunteered to participate. Two participants were excluded for sensorineural hearing loss and the results of 78 respondents were analyzed. Participants were evaluated using a questionnaire created by the researchers. Noise in different units of the hospital was measured during daytime working hours using the Sound Level Meter application with an iPhone 13® smartphone. Measurements yielded a mean noise level of 37.62 dBA (a minimum of 24.21 dBA to a maximum of 67.31 dBA). On occasions, noise levels in the hospital were as high as 74 dBA. Healthcare staff included in the study usually complained of moderate levels of noise and reported noise affected their performance. High levels of noise in hospitals negatively affect healthcare workers’ performance. Healthcare workers’ awareness about the impact of noise exposure in hospitals should be increased through in-service training programs. Improving noise levels in hospitals and implementing noise reduction interventions can help increase healthcare workers’ performance and eliminate the negative impacts of noise exposure to the inner ear.

Violence, Harassment, and Turnover Intention in Home and Community Care: The Role of Training.

Violence and harassment affect healthcare workers' well-being and career decisions in the home and community care sector. The objective of this study is to assess the role of training in alleviating the relationship between violence and harassment at work and turnover intention among personal support workers (PSWs). Cross-sectional survey data from 1401 PSWs in Ontario, Canada are analyzed with structural equation modeling. Utilizing a resource perspective, the associations between job demands (i.e., violence and harassment at work), personal resources (i.e., self-esteem), job resources (i.e., workplace violence training and challenging task training), stress, and intention to stay among personal support workers (PSWs) are examined. Challenging task training is positively associated with self-esteem and negatively associated with stress, whereas workplace violence training does not have a significant association with either variable. Stress has a negative relationship with intention to stay. Self-esteem is the mediator of both associations between violence and harassment at work and stress and between challenging task training and stress. The results point to varied degrees of training effectiveness that may be shaping turnover decisions of PSWs who experience violence and harassment in home and community care organizations. There seems to be a need to assess and redesign workplace violence training. Home and community care managers might be able to lower the impact of violence and harassment on PSWs' turnover by providing training that is not directly related to workplace violence and harassment.

Hospitalization, death, and probable reinfection in Peruvian healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2: a national retrospective cohort study

BackgroundPeru has some of the worst outcomes worldwide as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; it is presumed that this has also affected healthcare workers. This study aimed to establish whether occupation and other non-occupational variables were risk factors for possible reinfection, hospitalization, and mortality from COVID-19 in cohorts of Peruvian healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2.MethodsRetrospective cohort study. Healthcare workers who presented SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 1, 2020, and August 6, 2021, were included. Occupational cohorts were reconstructed from the following sources of information: National Epidemiological Surveillance System, molecular tests (NETLAB), results of serology and antigen tests (SICOVID-19), National Registry of Health Personnel (INFORHUS), and National Information System of Deaths (SINADEF). The incidence of probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 was obtained in the cohorts of technicians and health assistants, nursing staff, midwives, dentists, doctors, and other healthcare workers. We evaluated whether the occupation and other non-occupational variables were risk factors for probable reinfection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 using log-binomial and probit binomial models, obtaining the adjusted relative risk (RRAJ).Results90,398 healthcare workers were included in the study. Most cases were seen in technicians and health assistants (38.6%), and nursing staff (25.6%). 8.1% required hospitalization, 1.7% died from COVID-19, and 1.8% had probable reinfection. A similar incidence of probable reinfection was found in the six cohorts (1.7–1.9%). Doctors had a higher incidence of hospitalization (13.2%) and death (2.6%); however, they were also those who presented greater susceptibility linked to non-occupational variables (age and comorbidities). The multivariate analysis found that doctors (RRAJ = 1.720; CI 95: 1.569–1.886) had a higher risk of hospitalization and that the occupation of technician and health assistant was the only one that constituted a risk factor for mortality from COVID-19 (RRAJ = 1.256; 95% CI: 1.043–1.512).ConclusionsPeruvian technicians and health assistants would have a higher risk of death from COVID-19 than other healthcare workers, while doctors have a higher incidence of death probably linked to the high frequency of non-occupational risk factors. Doctors present a higher risk of hospitalization independent of comorbidities and age; likewise, all occupations show a similar risk of probable reinfection.