COVID-19 In Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Spirituality and Its Impact on Job Performance of Healthcare Workers in COVID-19, A Literature Review

Objectives: To review the scientific evidence on the impact of health personnel spirituality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Narrative and documentary literature review. Eight research studies were obtained from the Scopus, Scielo, PubMed and Web of Science databases. The spirituality variable was evaluated in health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). Results: It was found that spirituality becomes a determining factor that helps to prevent and avoid the appearance of chronic and acute anxiety. Likewise, spirituality is perceived as a source of coping and stress reducer, associating it with the highest level of resilience whose effect on the recovery of emotional and mental health together with its coping in critical events is of great importance. Of the eight studies found, two of them evaluated spirituality with the FACIT-SP scale. There is little research on spirituality in health personnel whose characteristics could be adapted to other cultural and linguistic contexts. Conclusions: Spirituality is protective and leads to behaviors of greater resilience, its effects on the recovery of emotional and mental health, and its coping in critical events is very valuable, being important to promote its institutional application.

A Pilot Feasibility Evaluation of a Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback App to Improve Self-Care in COVID-19 Healthcare Workers.

COVID-19 exacerbated burnout and mental health concerns among the healthcare workforce. Due to high work stress, demanding schedules made attuned eating behaviors a particularly challenging aspect of self-care for healthcare workers. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) mobile app for improving well-being among healthcare workers reporting elevated disordered eating during COVID-19. We conducted a mixed methods pre-mid-post single-arm pilot feasibility trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04921228). Deductive content analysis of participants' commentary generated qualitative themes. Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in pre- mid- to post-assessment scores on well-being outcomes. We consented 28 healthcare workers (25/89% female; 23/82% Non-Hispanic White; 22/79% nurses) to use and evaluate an HRVB mobile app. Of these, 25/89% fully enrolled by attending the app and device training; 23/82% were engaged in all elements of the protocol. Thirteen (52%) completed at least 10 min of HRVB on two-thirds or more study days. Most participants (18/75%) reported being likely or extremely likely to continue HRVB. Common barriers to engagement were busy schedules, fatigue, and technology difficulties. However, participants felt that HRVB helped them relax and connect better to their body's signals and experiences. Results suggested preliminary evidence of efficacy for improving interoceptive sensibility, mindful self-care, body appreciation, intuitive eating, stress, resilience, and disordered eating. HRVB has potential as a low-cost adjunct tool for enhancing well-being in healthcare workers through positively connecting to the body, especially during times of increased stress when attuned eating behavior becomes difficult to uphold.

Associations of Mental Health Issues with Health Literacy and Vaccination Readiness against COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities-A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Vaccinations against COVID-19 are of the utmost importance in long-term care facilities. During the pandemic, mental health issues increased significantly. This cross-sectional analysis aimed to assess the associations of depression and anxiety with health literacy in people in need of care and the association of depression and burnout with vaccination readiness against COVID-19 in health care workers (HCWs). Within our cross-sectional study, people in need of care were assessed for symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and health literacy (HLS-EU-Q16). Among HCWs, we assessed symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and burnout (MBI-HSS), as well as psychological antecedents of vaccination (5C) to measure vaccination readiness against COVID-19. A multivariate regression analysis was performed. Symptoms of a major depression were significantly associated with reduced health literacy (p = 0.010) in people in need of care. Among HCWs, symptoms of depression and burnout reduced vaccination readiness against COVID-19 significantly. In particular, collective responsibility was reduced in HCWs suffering from burnout symptoms (p = 0.001). People in need of care and their HCWs could benefit from intensified target group-specific vaccination counseling. Additionally, more attention should be paid to the protection of mental health in long-term care facilities.

The Dynamic Risk of COVID-19-Related Events in Vaccinated Healthcare Workers (HCWs) from a Tertiary Hospital in Bucharest, Romania: A Study Based on Active Surveillance Data.

Our study describes the frequency and severity of COVID-19 in HCWs and estimates the dynamic risk of COVID-19-related events. We actively surveyed all HCWs from a tertiary infectious disease hospital from 26 February 2020 to 31 May 2023. Of 1220 HCWs, 62.9% (767) had at least one COVID-19 episode. The under 29 years (p = 0.0001) and 40-49 years (p = 0.01) age groups, nurses (p = 0.0001), and high-risk departments (p = 0.037) were characteristics significantly more frequent in HCWs with COVID-19 history. A higher percentage of boosters (53.2%; p < 0.0001) were registered in the uninfected group. The second episode of COVID-19 was significantly milder than the first. Data regarding clinical outcomes from 31 January 2021 to 31 May 2023 were analyzed in a follow-up study to determine the risk of COVID-19-related events. The Cox regression analysis revealed that HCWs with booster shots had a lower risk of COVID-19 across all events, symptomatic events, and moderate to severe events as adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) were: 0.71 (95%CI: 0.54-0.96), 0.23 (95%CI: 0.12-0.46), and 0.17 (95%CI: 0.07-0.43), respectively. Within the vaccinated subgroup, the HCWs with hybrid immunity and booster had aHR for all followed-up events of 0.42 (95%CI: 0.30-0.58), for symptomatic events of 0.52 (95%CI: 0.36-0.74), and 0.15 (95%CI: 0.03-0.66) for moderate to severe events. The risk of COVID-19 clinical events was lower for HCWs with at least one booster than those completely vaccinated.

Postpandemic Evaluation of the Eco-Efficiency of Personal Protective Equipment Against COVID-19 in Emergency Departments: Proposal for a Mixed Methods Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on emergency department (ED) care in Canada and around the world. To prevent transmission of COVID-19, personal protective equipment (PPE) was required for all ED care providers in contact with suspected cases. With mass vaccination and improvements in several infection prevention components, our hypothesis is that the risks of transmission of COVID-19 will be significantly reduced and that current PPE use will have economic and ecological consequences that exceed its anticipated benefits. Evidence is needed to evaluate PPE use so that recommendations can ensure the clinical, economic, and environmental efficiency (ie, eco-efficiency) of its use. To support the development of recommendations for the eco-efficient use of PPE, our research objectives are to (1) estimate the clinical effectiveness (reduced transmission, hospitalizations, mortality, and work absenteeism) of PPE against COVID-19 for health care workers; (2) estimate the financial cost of using PPE in the ED for the management of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients; and (3) estimate the ecological footprint of PPE use against COVID-19 in the ED. We will conduct a mixed method study to evaluate the eco-efficiency of PPE use in the 5 EDs of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval (Québec, Canada). To achieve our goals, the project will include four phases: systematic review of the literature to assess the clinical effectiveness of PPE (objective1; phase 1); cost estimation of PPE use in the ED using a time-driven activity-based costing method (objective2; phase 2); ecological footprint estimation of PPE use using a life cycle assessment approach (objective3; phase 3); and cost-consequence analysis and focus groups (integration of objectives1to3; phase 4). The first 3 phases have started. The results of these phases will be available in 2023. Phase 4 will begin in 2023 and results will be available in 2024. While the benefits of PPE use are likely to diminish as health care workers' immunity increases, it is important to assess its economic and ecological impacts to develop recommendations to guide its eco-efficient use. PROSPERO CRD42022302598; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=302598. DERR1-10.2196/50682.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers during the first 2-years of the pandemic at a cancer hospital in Mexico

Health care workers (HCWs) are occupationally exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to characterize COVID-19 in HCWs at an oncology hospital in Mexico City over 2-years, identify factors associated with severity, and establish transmission dynamics. This retrospective study included HCWs with confirmed COVID-19. Socio-demographic, clinical, and outcome data were retrieved from March 2020 to March 2022. We compared the proportion of HCWs affected in each wave. A survey on COVID-19 transmission dynamics was conducted in a subgroup. We included 1,058 workers. The risk of COVID-19 was higher during the Omicron odds ratio (OR 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.77-2.50, P<.001). Age ≥41 years old (OR 6.32, 95% CI 2.4-16.62) and being administrative staff (OR 5.51, 95% CI 1.72-17.6) or medical staff (OR 6.82, CI 95% 1.77-26.23), compared to nursing staff, were associated with severity. Vaccination with ≥1 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 was a protective factor for severe disease (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.005-0.331). This study highlights the impact of COVID-19 on HCWs in a cancer hospital in Mexico City and the impact of vaccination as a protective factor against severity.

A Multi-Center Study Investigating Long COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers from North-Eastern Italy: Prevalence, Risk Factors and the Impact of Pre-Existing Humoral Immunity-ORCHESTRA Project.

Introduction: The impact of long-COVID-19 syndrome is rather variable, since it is influenced by several residual confounders. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of long COVID-19 in healthcare workers (HCWs) from four university hospitals in north-eastern Italy: Trieste, Padua, Verona, and Modena-Reggio Emilia. Methods: During the period June 2022-August 2022, HCWs were surveyed for past COVID-19 infections, medical history, and any acute as well as post-COVID-19 symptoms. The prevalence of long COVID-19 was estimated at 30-60 days or 61+ days since first negative swab following first and second COVID-19 episode. Furthermore, the risk of long COVID-19 was investigated by multivariable logistic regression. Results were expressed as the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results: 5432 HCWs returned a usable questionnaire: 2401 were infected with SARS-CoV-2 at least once, 230 were infected at least twice, and 8 were infected three times. The prevalence of long COVID-19 after a primary COVID-19 infection was 24.0% at 30-60 days versus 16.3% at 61+ days, and 10.5% against 5.5% after the second SARS-CoV-2 event. The most frequent symptoms after a first COVID-19 event were asthenia (30.3%), followed by myalgia (13.7%), cough (12.4%), dyspnea (10.2%), concentration deficit (8.1%), headache (7.3%), and anosmia (6.5%), in decreasing order of prevalence. The risk of long COVID-19 at 30-60 days was significantly higher in HCWs hospitalized for COVID-19 (aOR = 3.34; 95%CI: 1.62; 6.89), those infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the early pandemic waves-namely the Wuhan (aOR = 2.16; 95%CI: 1.14; 4.09) or Alpha (aOR= 2.05; 95%CI: 1.25; 3.38) transmission periods-and progressively increasing with viral shedding time (VST), especially 15+ days (aOR = 3.20; 95%CI: 2.07; 4.94). Further determinants of long COVID-19 at 30-60 days since primary COVID-19 event were female sex (aOR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.30; 2.80), age >40 years, abnormal BMI, or administrative services (reference category). In contrast, HCWs vaccinated with two doses before their primary infection (aOR = 0.57; 95%CI: 0.34; 0.94), undergraduate students, or postgraduate medical trainees were less likely to experience long COVID-19 at 30-60 days. Apart from pandemic waves, the main determinants of long COVID-19 at 30-60 days were confirmed at 61+ days. Conclusions: The risk of long COVID-19 following primary infection increased with the severity of acute disease and VST, especially during the initial pandemic waves, when more virulent viral strains were circulating, and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 was higher since most HCWs had not been infected yet, COVID-19 vaccines were still not available, and/or vaccination coverage was still building up. The risk of long COVID-19 therefore decreased inversely with humoral immunity at the individual level. Nevertheless, the prevalence of long COVID-19 was remarkably lower after SARS-CoV-2 reinfections regardless of vaccination status, suggesting that hybrid humoral immunity did not increase protection against the syndrome compared to immunity mounted by either natural infection or vaccination separately. Since the risk of long COVID-19 is currently low with Omicron and patients who developed the syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection in the early pandemic waves tend to return to a state of full health with time, a cost-effective approach to screen post-COVID-19 symptoms during the Omicron time could be restricted to vulnerable individuals developing severe disease and/or with prolonged VST.

Mitigating healthcare worker risk during the COVID-19 pandemic - experience from a large tertiary maternity centre in the United Arab Emirates.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, healthcare workers (HCW) have been leading the charge in combating it, in spite of being disproportionately affected by the disease compared to the general population. This study describes the measures instituted at the largest maternity center in the United Arab Emirates during the pandemic to mitigate the risk of HCW contracting COVID-19, as well as the effectiveness of those measures. The incidence of COVID-19 amongst healthcare workers at the facility was compared to that in the general population over a 13-month period from February 2021 to February 2022. Data on population testing was obtained from the database maintained by the regional testing lab, while HCW testing data was obtained from the occupational health department at the hospital. The incidence of COVID-19 in HCWs and the general population was compared using summary statistics and charts. Several mitigation measures were instituted to protect HCW during the pandemic including patient traffic management, adequate provision of personal protective equipment, staff vaccination campaigns, infrastructure enhancement, workforce planning, and structured occupational health policies. During the study period the overall positivity rate in the general population was 5.78% (83,005/1.4 million tests) and that for staff was 1.19% (401/33,228 tests). The peaks and troughs on staff turning positive for COVID-19 coincided with peaks and troughs of the pandemic in the general population. The hospital instituted effective mitigation measures in protecting the staff and keeping COVID-19 rates well below the ones encountered in the general population.

The impact of COVID-19 on health financing in Kenya.

Sudden shocks to health systems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt health system functions. Health system functions may also influence the health system's ability to deliver in the face of sudden shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on the health financing function in Kenya, and how specific health financing arrangements influenced the health systems capacity to deliver services during the COVID-19 pandemic.We conducted a cross-sectional study in three purposively selected counties in Kenya using a qualitative approach. We collected data using in-depth interviews (n = 56) and relevant document reviews. We interviewed national level health financing stakeholders, county department of health managers, health facility managers and COVID-19 healthcare workers. We analysed data using a framework approach. Purchasing arrangements: COVID-19 services were partially subsidized by the national government, exposing individuals to out-of-pocket costs given the high costs of these services. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) adapted its enhanced scheme's benefit package targeting formal sector groups to include COVID-19 services but did not make any adaptations to its general scheme targeting the less well-off in society. This had potential equity implications. Public Finance Management (PFM) systems: Nationally, PFM processes were adaptable and partly flexible allowing shorter timelines for budget and procurement processes. At county level, PFM systems were partially flexible with some resource reallocation but maintained centralized purchasing arrangements. The flow of funds to counties and health facilities was delayed and the procurement processes were lengthy. Reproductive and child health services: Domestic and donor funds were reallocated towards the pandemic response resulting in postponement of program activities and affected family planning service delivery. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plans: Prioritization of UHC related activities was negatively impacted due the shift of focus to the pandemic response. Contrarily the strategic investments in the health sector were found to be a beneficial approach in strengthening the health system. Strengthening health systems to improve their resilience to cope with public health emergencies requires substantial investment of financial and non-financial resources. Health financing arrangements are integral in determining the extent of adaptability, flexibility, and responsiveness of health system to COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Occupational disease by COVID-19 in healthcare workers

1 out of 5 cases of COVID-19 in Mexico occurred in health workers, and the high risk of contagion in these workers caused absenteeism due to temporary leave from work (TLfW), as well as the need to establish qualification criteria for COVID-19 as an occupational disease (OD). There are no quantitative data about the labor population to whom this benefit has been provided, nor on the economic impact of not being qualified as OD. To estimate the prevalence of qualification of OD by COVID-19 in health workers from a tertiary care hospital (TCH). Descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study carried out from March 2020 to April 2021, which included health workers from a TCH who had TLfW due to COVID-19 and were working 14 days before it was issued. Variables such as OD, days of TLfW, category, among others, were analyzed, as well as the economic income lost by remaining as a general disease (GD). It was used descriptive statistics. A total of 654 health workers had TLfW due to COVID-19, with a prevalence of OD of 18.5%; 17 days of TLfW were granted on average. Nurses were classified with the high number of OD, and the category with the highest prevalence was cleaning and hygiene assistant (36%). 5310 days of TLfW were subsidized as GD, equivalent to $510,385.60 (Mexican pesos) that were not granted as an economic benefit to the population that did not have an OD qualification due to COVID-19. The prevalence of recognition of COVID-19 as OD was low; most of TLfWs were subsidized as GDs.

P2/N95 fit testing and the risk of COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers

BackgroundGuidelines recommend healthcare workers (HCWs) undertake fit testing of P2/N95 respirators to mitigate the risk of infectious aerosols, however few studies have assessed whether fit testing reduces COVID-19 infection. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted amongst HCWs across two tertiary health services in Melbourne, Australia during a period of low community transmission. Institution-wide quantitative fit testing and detailed questionnaires assessing COVID-19 acquisition risk factors were undertaken from September 2020. HCWs diagnosed with COVID-19 in the period prior to the fit testing program (February 1st – August 31st 2020) were matched on a 1:3 ratio to HCWs who had not been diagnosed with COVID-19. Risk factors for COVID-19 acquisition, including fit testing outcome, were compared between groups. ResultsA total of 1571 HCWs took part in fit testing programs. Seventy-two (4.6%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 within the study period. Younger age, nursing staff, close contact with a COVID-19 case, and working longer periods in wards with COVID-19 patients, were associated with COVID-19 infection. After matching for intensity of occupational exposure to infectious aerosols, close contact was the only independent variable associated with COVID-19 infection (OR 3.50, 95% CI:1.65–7.44, p = 0.001). Adequate fit test for the respirator predominately worn before the fit testing period was not associated with COVID-19 (OR 1.08, 95% CI:0.59–1.98, p = 0.815). ConclusionAfter controlling for intensity of occupational exposure to infectious aerosols, P2/N95 respirator fit testing was not associated with reduced risk of COVID-19 infection. The utility of widespread fit testing to reduce HCW COVID-19 infections should be reconsidered.

Exploring Psychological Factors Linking Burnout and Depression among COVID-19 Healthcare Workers Two Years Post-Pandemic

Exploring Psychological Factors Linking Burnout and Depression among COVID-19 Healthcare Workers Two Years Post-Pandemic

Guidelines for Infection and Burnout Prevention in COVID-19 Healthcare Workers

Se Yoon Park, Hae Suk Cheong, Ki Tae Kwon, Kyung Mok Sohn, Sang Taek Heo, Shinwon Lee, Un Sun Chung, So Hee Lee. Korean J healthc assoc Infect Control Prev 2023;28:50-63. https://doi.org/10.14192/kjicp.2023.28.1.50

An Outbreak of Campylobacter Jejuni Involving Healthcare Workers Detected by COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Symptom Surveillance

An Outbreak of <i>Campylobacter Jejuni</i> Involving Healthcare Workers Detected by COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Symptom Surveillance

Safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine as prophylactic against COVID-19 in healthcare workers: a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials

ObjectiveWe studied the safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 in healthcare workers (HCWs), using a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).Data sourcesPubMed and EMBASE databases...

Immunological responses and adverse reactions of the heterologous second booster dose of BNT162b2 after two-dose CoronaVac for COVID-19 vaccination in healthcare workers of Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University

BackgroundThe first COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Thailand began in April 2020, with healthcare workers receiving two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac). However, the emergence of the delta and omicron variants raised concerns about vaccine effectiveness. The Thai Ministry of Public Health provided the first booster dose (third dose) and second booster dose (fourth dose) of the mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) for healthcare workers. This study investigated the immunity and adverse reactions elicited by a heterologous second booster dose of BNT162b2 after a two-dose CoronaVac vaccination for COVID-19 in healthcare workers of the Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University. MethodsIgG titres against the SARS-CoV-2-spike protein were measured four and 24 weeks after the second booster dose of BNT162b2 in the study participants. Adverse reactions were recorded during the first three days, four weeks and 24 weeks after the second booster dose of BNT162b2. ResultsIgG against the SARS-CoV-2-spike protein was positive (>10 U/ml) in 246 of 247 participants (99.6 %) at both four and 24 weeks after the second booster dose of BNT162b2. The median specific IgG titres at four and 24 weeks after the second booster dose of BNT162b2 were 299 U/ml (min: 2, max: 29,161) and 104 U/ml (min: 1, max: 17,920), respectively. The median IgG level declined significantly 24 weeks after the second booster dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Of the 247 participants, 179 (72.5 %) experienced adverse reactions in the first three days after the second booster dose of BNT162b2. Myalgia, fever, headache, injection site pain and fatigue were the most common adverse reactions. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that a heterologous second booster dose of BNT162b2 after two doses of CoronaVac induced elevated IgG against the SARS-CoV-2-spike protein and caused minor adverse reactions in healthcare workers of the Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University.This study was registered as Thailand Clinical Trials No. TCTR20221112001.

Evaluation of Antibody Kinetics Following COVID-19 Vaccination in Greek SARS-CoV-2 Infected and Naïve Healthcare Workers.

We investigated the antibody kinetics after vaccination against COVID-19 in healthcare workers of a Greek tertiary hospital. Eight hundred and three subjects were included, of whom 758 (94.4%) received the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech), eight (1%) mRNA-1273 (Moderna), 14 (1.7%) ChAdOx1 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) and 23 (2.9%) Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen). Before the second dose, at 2, 6 and 9 months after the second dose and at 2 and 6 months after the third dose, anti-spike IgG were quantified by the chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay method. One hundred subjects were infected before vaccination (group A), 335 were infected after receiving at least one vaccine dose (group B), while 368 had never been infected (group C). Group A presented a greater number of hospitalizations and reinfections compared to group B (p < 0.05). By multivariate analysis, younger age was associated with an increased risk of reinfection (odds ratio: 0.956, p = 0.004). All subjects showed the highest antibody titers at 2 months after the second and third dose. Group A showed higher antibody titers pre-second dose, which remained elevated 6 months post-second dose compared to groups B and C (p < 0.05). Pre-vaccine infection leads to rapid development of high antibody titer and a slower decline. Vaccination is associated with fewer hospitalizations and fewer reinfections.

Insomnia and job stressors among healthcare workers who served COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh

BackgroundThe global outbreak of COVID-19 has created unprecedented havoc among health care workers, resulting in significant psychological strains like insomnia. This study aimed to analyze insomnia prevalence and job stressors among Bangladeshi health care workers in COVID-19 units.MethodologyWe conducted this cross-sectional study to assess insomnia severity from January to March 2021 among 454 health care workers working in multiple hospitals in Dhaka city with active COVID-dedicated units. We selected 25 hospitals conveniently. We used a structured questionnaire for face-to-face interviews containing sociodemographic variables and job stressors. The severity of insomnia was measured by the Insomnia Severity Scale (ISS). The scale has seven items to evaluate the rate of insomnia, which was categorized as the absence of Insomnia (0–7); sub-threshold Insomnia (8–14); moderate clinical Insomnia (15–21); and severe clinical Insomnia (22–28). To identify clinical insomnia, a cut-off value of 15 was decided primarily. A cut-off score of 15 was initially proposed for identifying clinical insomnia. We performed a chi-square test and adjusted logistic regression to explore the association of different independent variables with clinically significant insomnia using the software SPSS version 25.0.Results61.5% of our study participants were females. 44.9% were doctors, 33.9% were nurses, and 21.1% were other health care workers. Insomnia was more dominant among doctors and nurses (16.2% and 13.6%, respectively) than others (4.2%). We found clinically significant insomnia was associated with several job stressors (p < 0.05). In binary logistic regression, having sick leave (OR = 0.248, 95% CI = 0.116, 0.532) and being entitled to risk allowance (OR = 0.367, 95% CI = 0.124.1.081) showed lower odds of developing Insomnia. Previously diagnosed with COVID-19-positive health care workers had an OR of 2.596 (95% CI = 1.248, 5.399), pointing at negative experiences influencing insomnia. In addition, we observed that any training on risk and hazard increased the chances of suffering from Insomnia (OR = 1.923, 95% CI = 0.934, 3.958).ConclusionIt is evident from the findings that the volatile existence and ambiguity of COVID-19 have induced significant adverse psychological effects and subsequently directed our HCWs toward disturbed sleep and insomnia. The study recommends the imperativeness to formulate and implement collaborative interventions to help HCWs cope with this crisis and mitigate the mental stresses they experience during the pandemic.

Workplace violence against healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Workplace violence (WPV) is a prevalent phenomenon, especially in the healthcare setting. WPV against healthcare workers (HCWs) has increased during the COVID-19 epidemic. This meta-analysis determined the prevalence and risk factors of WPV. A database search was conducted across six databases in May 2022, which was updated in October 2022. WPV prevalence among HCWs was the main outcome. Data were stratified by WPV/HCW type, pandemic period (early, mid, late), and medical specialty. WPV risk factors were the secondary outcome. All analyses were conducted through STATA. Newcastle Ottawa Scale evaluated the quality. Sensitivity analysis identified effect estimate changes. A total of 38 studies (63,672 HCWs) were analyzed. The prevalence of WPV of any kind (43%), physical (9%), verbal (48%), and emotional (26%) was high. From mid-pandemic to late-pandemic, WPV (40-47%), physical violence (12-23%), and verbal violence (45-58%) increased. Nurses had more than double the rate of physical violence (13% vs. 5%) than physicians, while WPV and verbal violence were equal. Gender, profession, and COVID-19 timing did not affect WPV, physical, or verbal violence risk. COVID-19 HCWs were more likely to be physically assaulted (logOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.10: 0.97). Most healthcare employees suffer verbal violence, followed by emotional, bullying, sexual harassment, and physical assault. Pandemic-related workplace violence increased. Nurses were twice as violent as doctors. COVID-19 healthcare employees had a higher risk of physical and workplace violence.

Online training of Covid-19 infection prevention and control for healthcare workers in psychiatric institutes

BackgroundThis study aimed to develop a unique online infection prevention and control (IPC) training on Covid-19 for healthcare workers in psychiatric institutes in Japan and to examine its efficacy based on its impact on the knowledge, attitude, and confidence about IPC for Covid-19 among the healthcare workers.MethodThis quasi-experimental study was conducted using online training on Covid-19 IPC for healthcare workers in various psychiatric institutes from April 2021 to March 2022. An online training video on Covid-19 IPC was developed. Voluntary healthcare workers in psychiatric institutes located in five prefectures in Japan were recruited to participate in this training. The participants then completed 30 min of online training and surveys about knowledge, attitude, and confidence were conducted pre, post, and three months after the training. The video training and surveys were contextually validated by the experts, but not by any previous study.ResultsA total of 224 participants were included, of which 108 (54.0%) were men. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age and the mean occupational experience were 47.4 (9.5) and 18.0 (12.6) years, respectively. Among the participants, 190 (84.8%) completed the post-training, and 131 (58.5%) completed the three-month-later training surveys. The total score on the quizzes in the post-training (+ 31.1%, SD 15.7, p-value < 0.01) and three-month-later training (+ 14.9%, SD 16.8, p-value < 0.01) surveys had significantly increased from that in the pre-training survey. In contrast, the total score in the three-month-later training had significantly decreased from that in the post-training survey (-16.1%, SD 16.7, p-value < 0.01).ConclusionThirty minutes of online training about IPC for Covid-19 had improved knowledge, confidence, and attitude among psychiatric healthcare workers. Regular online training would help in preventing the transmission or formation of clusters of Covid-19 in psychiatric healthcare institutes.