Different Categories Of Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Guarding Our Guardians: Navigating Adverse Reactions in Healthcare Workers Amid Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Usage During COVID-19.

The widespread utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic has been crucial for reducing transmission risk among healthcare workers (HCWs) and the public. However, the extensive use of PPEhas brought about potential adverse reactions, particularly among HCWs. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of adverse skin reactions associated with PPE use among different categories of HCWs, including faculty, residents, and nursing officers (NOs), in a dedicated tertiary care COVID-19 hospital. The study design was a hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study conducted over one month, involving a total of 240 participants. The participants were required to complete a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire that covered demographic information, PPE-related data, preventive measures, observed reactions, and self-management strategies. Results indicated that adverse skin reactions were common among HCWs, with reactions reported by all participants. The most commonly used PPE included N95 masks, goggles, gloves, face shields, isolation gowns, and medical protective clothing. Excessive sweating (60% residents, 21.1% NOs, and 16.25% faculties), facial rash, dry palms (>70% of HCWs), and itching were among the most prevalent adverse reactions. Urticarial lesions (28.5% among NOs), pressure marks and pain (100% on the cheek among all HCWs), fungal infections (18.5% among residents at the web space of fingers), and skin breakdown were also reported. Factors such as age, gender, pre-existing skin problems, and oily/acne-prone skin history were found to be significantly associated with adverse skin reactions. In conclusion, the findings highlight the common adverse reactions reported by HCWs during the use of different PPEs. Certain steps taken by HCWs for the prevention of adverse reactions due to PPE emphasize the importance of tailored preventive measures and strategies to mitigate these adverse reactions, such as proper PPE selection, well-fitting equipment, regular breaks, and appropriate skincare practices. These insights contribute to the development of guidelines for optimal PPE usage and support the well-being of HCWs in their essential roles.

COVID-19 geçiren veya geçirmemiş olan sağlık çalışanlarında anksiyete durumunun değerlendirilmesi

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, impacting the mental health of healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess and compare anxiety levels among different categories of healthcare workers during the pandemic.
 
 Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 180 healthcare workers categorized into four groups: COVID-19 negative healthcare workers (n=45), COVID-19 positive hospitalized and treated healthcare workers (n=45), COVID-19 positive healthcare workers treated at home (n=45), and COVID-19 negative healthcare workers who were off duty due to chronic illnesses (n=45). The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) was used to measure anxiety levels.
 
 Results: COVID-19 negative healthcare workers reported relatively lower anxiety levels (mean CAS score = 1.29, SD = 1.829), with the majority experiencing minimal anxiety. COVID-19 positive hospitalized and treated healthcare workers had expressively higher anxiety levels (mean CAS score = 4.09, SD = 5.049), indicating substantial distress. COVID-19 positive healthcare workers treated at home demonstrated intermediate anxiety levels (mean CAS score = 3.09, SD = 3.014). COVID-19 negative healthcare workers with chronic illnesses showed higher anxiety levels compared to their non-chronically ill counterparts (mean CAS score = 2.02, SD = 2.19).
 
 Conclusion: This study highlights the diverse psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers. COVID-19 positive hospitalized and treated healthcare workers experienced the highest levels of anxiety, followed by those treated at home. Even COVID-19 negative healthcare workers and those with chronic illnesses experienced notable anxiety. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and support systems to address the mental health needs of healthcare workers effectively during and beyond the pandemic. Understanding and mitigating anxiety among healthcare workers are crucial for their well-being and the quality of patient care. Further research is warranted to explore additional factors influencing anxiety levels in this population.

Mental health status and associated factors with stress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

COVID-19, being the most terrible occurrence of the 21st century, has profoundly affected the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs). Throughout this pandemic, HCWs have been at the forefront, confronting numerous physical and mental health problems. Our study aimed to identify the major mental health issues experienced by HCWs in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Additionally, we aimed to uncover the contributing factors that led to their heightened stress. According to this purpose, this cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2021 to February 2022 with different categories of HCWs selected from twelve hospitals exclusively designated for COVID-19 patients. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. A 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess the stress levels experienced by the respondents. Among the total of 483 HCWs, 76.6% were nurses, 19.9% were doctors, and 3.5% were medical technologists. Our study found that the prevalence of COVID-19 positive cases among HCWs (nurses, doctors, and medical technologists) was 28.6%. Based on the PSS, 93.2% experienced low to moderate levels of stress, and 6.8% reported high levels of stress. A number of sociodemographic, habitual, organizational, and family factors of the respondents were significant, with the PSS at a 5% level of significance and a p-value less than 0.05. However, the variable ‘experience of any negligence, torture, blaming/bullying/threat from society’ was insignificant to the stress experienced by the HCWs. In brief, the study highlights the mental health issues faced by HCWs amid the pandemic, emphasizing significant associated factors. Organizational support and the role of the HCWs' families are crucial in reducing their stress levels.

SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG & Neutralizing antibodies among different categories of health care workers post third dose BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

ABSTRACT Neutralizing antibodies (NTAb) play a significant role in preventing and protecting against SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Identifying NTAb is undoubtedly imperative in understanding the immunity toward COVID-19 better. However, it is interesting to note that the production of NTAb varies among individuals, especially among healthcare workers (HCWs), as they are exposed to the virus daily. Hence, we would like to investigate factors affecting the production of S-RBD IgG and NTAb among different categories of HCWs, particularly after receiving the third dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine. A total of 361 HCWs from our hospital were prospectively enrolled and had their S-RBD IgG and NTAb titers measured. They were studied in relation to the degree of exposure to COVID-19, breakthrough infections, gender, age, race, household income, housing type, household number, and education levels. HCWs with the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19, breakthrough infections, and male gender displayed the highest median titers of both S-RBD IgG and NTAb, and the differences were statistically significant (p < .05). Age, race, household income, housing type, household number, and education levels were revealed to be insignificant. We concluded that the degree of exposure to COVID-19, breakthrough infections, and male gender are significant factors in NTAb production among HCWs.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS NEEDLE STICK INJURY AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL-QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Background : An occupational injury is loosely termed as needle stick injury(NSI) , though it included injury through needle or other sharps and splashes4.They constitute major source of blood borne pathogens especially HIV, HBV, HCV. The risk of transmission after NSI is highest for HBV (2-40%), followed by HCV (2.7-10%), least for HIV (0.3%) 5. Purpose 1. To assess the occurrence of NSI among different categories of HCWs 2. To study various factors responsible and the circumstances under which they occur 3. To prevent these through improvement in knowledge, attitude and practice. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among health care workers (HCWs) in a Private Hospital (Shanthi hospital and research centre) in Bengaluru from Jan to March 2023. This study included all HCW (50), who come in contact with patients, thus exposed to sharps and other occupational hazards. Data collection was carried out using standardized questionnaire, created based on review of the literature Results: out of 50, 21 were males and 29 were female. Maximum were in the age group of 20-40 yrs. 50 % of the HCWs are nursing staff, followed by 20% doctors, 18% housekeeping, 12% technicians. Needle stick injury was seen in 10% of HCWs. Out of 5 HCWs, only one has sustained 2 NSIs, remaining 4 HCWs had NSI only once. It was common in nursing staff as they will be dealing with sharps frequently. Interpretation &amp; Conclusion: NSI rate is relatively low in this study compared to many other studies, even HBV Vaccination rate is good in this study. To improve the knowledge, attitude and practice towards NSI repeated training with pre and post test questionnaire is very important. More knowledge is required regarding needleless safety devices.

An Association Between Job Stress and Poor Social Support Among Healthcare Workers in Northeastern Malaysia.

Job stress is an important occupational health problem globally. Hence, identification of workers at risk of developing job stress is paramount to the decision-makers. This study aims to estimate the proportion of job stress and its relationship with different categories of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the primary care and public health settings in northeastern Malaysia. A cross-sectional study involving 520 HCWs across all categories was conducted in Kelantan State, Malaysia. A proforma and validated Malay version of the Job Content Questionnaires were administered to obtain the data. The participants were then classified into four categories of workers according to Karasek's job demands-control model classification which were active, passive, high strain, and low strain. We found that a total of 145 (28.5%) HCWs in the study have job stress (high-strain job type). HCWs with a degree or higher qualification had the highest proportion of job stress (41.2%), while the diploma group has the lowest proportion of job stress among the four academic qualification groups (22.9%). Pearson chi-square shows a significant association between Karasek's job types and the level of social support from their supervisors (p < 0.05)but no association between job strain and the level of supervisor's social support (p > 0.05). Job stress among HCWs is prevalent, and the professional group had the highest percentage of risk job stress as compared to other groups. There is a significant association between the supervisor's social support and Karasek's job strain categories.

Knowledge and attitude among healthcare workers towards COVID-19 in Facilities of the Ministry of Health care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge and attitude toward the COVID-19 virus and the protective measures among different categories of healthcare workers (HCWs) in King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 130 physicians, nurses, and pharmacists in the internal medicine and surgery departments at King Abdul-Aziz hospital. A self-administered questionnaire that was adopted from WHO and official reports was used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and risk perception of HCWs toward COVID-19. Results: The mean age of the studied group was 32.38 ± 12.13 and the majority were females (87.5%) with 26.9% having post-graduate education. About 71.5% had direct contact with COVID-19 patients and 66.9% received their information from WHO and official reports. The mean knowledge score was 11.32 ± 0.87 and 95.4% had sufficient knowledge. The mean attitude score was 6.46 ± 1.56 and 73.2% had a positive attitude. About 96.2% and 93.8% thought that the virus might be more dangerous for those with chronic disease and the elderly, respectively. There was a statistically significant relation among mean knowledge score and education, profession, and contact with COVID-19 patients with higher scores reported with a post-graduate education, physicians, and those with direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: HCWs had good knowledge and a positive attitude toward COVID-19, which is very essential for limiting the spread of the epidemic.

Adverse Skin Reactions to Personal Protective Equipment Among Healthcare Workers in Oman During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) were required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) for unusually prolonged periods of timein order to protect themselves. This study was conducted toassess the prevalence of adverse skin reactions to PPEamongHCWsfrom occupational and domestic exposure in Oman. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that used a self-administered questionnaire, modified based on the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire, and was conducted in different categories of healthcare facilities in Oman from September to December 2020. This study involved 431 different categories of HCWs. Stata statistical software, version 12 (StataCorp, College Station, TX), was used to analyze the data, with a P value <0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results Findings indicated that 58.24% of HCWs reported new skin symptoms since the pandemic started, compared to 33.41% of HCWs who had skin symptoms before the pandemic (P<0.001). From the multivariate analysis, being female (odds ratio, or OR, 3.512; 95% confidence interval, or CI: 2.193-5.625), allergic rhinitis diagnosis (OR 2.420; 95% CI: 1.097-5.347), history of skin symptoms (OR 3.166; 95% CI: 1.856-5.400), and total glove use time (OR 1.160; 95% CI: 1.078-1.247) were associated with an increased risk of acquiring new skin symptoms. Conclusion This study demonstrates that there is some association between the prolonged use of PPE during an event such as a pandemic and a previous history of allergic rhinitis and skin symptoms. This study also emphasizes the importance of appropriate protective skin care before and after the use of PPE.

Prevalence and Management of Low Back Pain Among Health Workers in a Privately Owned Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Aim: This study assessed the prevalence and management of LBP among health workers in a private teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) often experience low back pain (LBP) more than any other category of workers. While a lot has been documented about the prevalence of LBP among different categories of workers, little is known about how health workers manage LBP. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and management of LBP among health workers in a private teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. Associations between variables: (a) sociodemographic variables (i.e., age, gender) and the prevalence of low back pain, and (b) interference with activities of daily living across different categories of health workers, were evaluated. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed in this study. One hundred and eighty-nine HCWs were randomly selected from the wards and units of the hospital. The LBP questionnaire and the Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive (mean and percentages) and inferential (chi-square and ANOVA) statistics. Results: The prevalence of LBP among health workers was found to be 87.3%. Moreover, most of the health workers massage their back (78.3%), engage in exercise (72.0%), and use analgesics (69.3%) as a means of managing LBP. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between gender (X2 = 0.31, P&gt;0.05), age (X2 = 1.52, P&gt;0.05), marital status (X2 = 2.93, P&gt;0.05) of HCWs and prevalence of LBP. However, a significant difference was reported in the mean interference of LBP with activities of daily living across the different categories of healthcare workers that participated in the study (F= (7,181) 3.58, P = 0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP is high among HCWs that participated in the study. Therefore, it is recommended that HCWs might use massage, engage in exercise, and take analgesics as a means to combat LBP.

A hospital-based prospective cohort study to assess the factors associated with transmission dynamics of SARS CoV-2 among healthcare workers in Delhi

Background: Healthcare personnel providing COVID-19 care are at increased risk of acquiring infection. Understanding the factors associated with the transmission of infection among healthcare workers provides input for the development of prevention strategies. The objectives of this study were to study the adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures followed between different categories of healthcare workers, to estimate seroconversion rate based on the type of exposure with COVID-19 patients, and to study the association between seroconversion and IPC practices. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from December 2020 to June 2021 among the healthcare workers in two tertiary healthcare institutes selected by purposive sampling. All Healthcare workers (HCWs) participating in the clinical management or having any exposure to a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case were included. A total of 817 subjects were enrolled in the study. At baseline, details on IPC training and adherence along with details of the type of exposure with the COVID-19 patient were collected. The end-line visit was scheduled at 22-31 (preferably 28 days) days from the first visit for the collection of the symptom diary and end-line form. Results: Hand hygiene practices were found to be best among paramedics (98.0%), followed by doctors (84.5%) and nurses (90.1%). Maximum HCWs (99.5%; 99.8%; 97.1%) reported using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriately and regular availability of PPE in the hospital setting. Among the various categories of HCWs, nurses had the highest proportion (28.7%) of untrained personnel. Conclusion: The HCWs who had contact with the surroundings of an infected patient showed higher odds of seroconversion although not statistically significant. Further, analyzing the types of PPE used, we found that the use of masks and gloves was protective in preventing infection. Strengthening IPC training through refresher training and demonstrating the correct use of PPE can enhance adherence to IPC measures.

Prevalence and Management of Low Back Pain Among Health Workers in a Private Owned Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Aim The study assessed the prevalence and management of LBP among health workers in a private teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. Background Health care workers (HCWs) often experience low back pain (LBP) more than any other category of workers. While a lot has been documented about the prevalence of LBP among different categories of workers, little is known about how health workers manage LBP. Objectives The study assessed the prevalence and management of LBP among health workers in a private teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. Association between variables was tested (a) sociodemographic variables (i.e., age, gender) and prevalence of low back pain, and (b) interference with Activities of daily living and categories of health workers. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed in this study. One hundred and eighty-nine HCWs were randomly selected in the wards and units of the hospital. The prevalence of the LBP questionnaire and Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive (mean and percentages) and inferential (chi-square and ANOVA) statistics. Results The prevalence of LBP among health workers was found to be 87.3%. Also, most of the health workers massage their back (78.3%), engage in exercise (72.0%), and use analgesics (69.3%) as a means of managing LBP. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between gender (X2 = 0.31, P&gt;0.05), age (X2 = 1.52, P&gt;0.05), marital status (X2 = 2.93, P&gt;0.05) of HCWs and prevalence of LBP. However, a significant difference exists in the mean interference of LBP with activities of daily living across the different categories of healthcare workers that participated in the study (F= (7,181) 3.58, P = 0.01). Conclusion The prevalence of LBP is high among HCWs that participated in the study. Therefore, it is recommended that HCWs might use massage, engagement in exercise, and analgesics as a means to combat LBP.

Prevalence and Management of Low Back Pain Among Health Workers in a Private Owned Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Aim The study assessed the prevalence and management of LBP among health workers in a private teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. Background Health care workers (HCWs) often experience low back pain (LBP) more than any other category of workers. While a lot has been documented about the prevalence of LBP among different categories of workers, little is known about how health workers manage LBP. Objectives The study assessed the prevalence and management of LBP among health workers in a private teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. Association between variables was tested (a) sociodemographic variables (i.e., age, gender) and prevalence of low back pain, and (b) interference with Activities of daily living and categories of health workers. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed in this study. One hundred and eighty-nine HCWs were randomly selected in the wards and units of the hospital. The prevalence of the LBP questionnaire and Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive (mean and percentages) and inferential (chi-square and ANOVA) statistics. Results The prevalence of LBP among health workers was found to be 87.3%. Also, most of the health workers massage their back (78.3%), engage in exercise (72.0%), and use analgesics (69.3%) as a means of managing LBP. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between gender (X2 = 0.31, P&gt;0.05), age (X2 = 1.52, P&gt;0.05), marital status (X2 = 2.93, P&gt;0.05) of HCWs and prevalence of LBP. However, a significant difference exists in the mean interference of LBP with activities of daily living across the different categories of healthcare workers that participated in the study (F= (7,181) 3.58, P = 0.01). Conclusion The prevalence of LBP is high among HCWs that participated in the study. Therefore, it is recommended that HCWs might use massage, engagement in exercise, and analgesics as a means to combat LBP.

Prevalence of Psychopathological Symptoms and Their Determinants in Four Healthcare Workers' Categories during the Second Year of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Highly stressful situations, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, induce constant changes in the mental state of people who experience them. In the present study, we analyzed the prevalence of some psychological symptoms and their determinants in four different categories of healthcare workers during the second year of the pandemic. A total of 265 physicians, 176 nurses, 184 other healthcare professionals, and 48 administrative employees, working in different Italian healthcare contexts, answered a questionnaire including variables about their mental status and experience with the pandemic. The mean scores for anxiety and depressive symptoms measured more than one year after the onset of the pandemic did not reach the pathological threshold. In contrast, post-traumatic and burnout symptoms tended toward the critical threshold, especially in physicians. The main determinant of psychological distress was perceived stress, followed by job satisfaction, the impact of COVID-19 on daily work, and a lack of recreational activities. These results increase the knowledge of which determinants of mental distress would be important to act on when particularly stressful conditions exist in the workplace that persist over time. If well-implemented, specific interventions focused on these determinants could lead to an improvement in employee well-being and in the quality of care provided.

A hospital-based prospective cohort study to assess the factors associated with transmission dynamics of SARS CoV-2 among healthcare workers in Delhi

Background: Healthcare personnel providing COVID-19 care are at increased risk of acquiring infection. Understanding the factors associated with the transmission of infection amongst healthcare workers provides input for the development of prevention strategies. The objectives of this study were to study the adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures followed between different categories of healthcare workers, to estimate seroconversion rate based on the type of exposure with COVID-19 patients and to study the association between seroconversion and IPC practices. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from December 2020 to June 2021 among the healthcare workers in two tertiary healthcare institutes selected by purposive sampling. All Healthcare workers (HCW) participating in the clinical management or having any exposure to a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case were included. A total of 817 subjects were enrolled in the study. At baseline, details on IPC training and adherence along with details of the type of exposure with the COVID-19 patient were collected. The end-line visit was scheduled at 22-31 (preferably 28 days) days from the first visit for the collection of the symptom diary and end-line form. Results: Hand hygiene practices were found to be best among paramedics (98.0%), followed by doctors (84.5%) and nurses (90.1%). Maximum HCWs (99.5%; 99.8%; 97.1%) reported using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriately and regular availability of PPE in the hospital setting. Among the various categories of HCWs, nurses had the highest proportion (28.7%) of untrained personnel. Conclusion: The HCWs who had contact with the surroundings of an infected patient showed higher odds of seroconversion although not statistically significant. Further, analyzing the types of PPE used, we found that the use of masks and gloves were protective in preventing infection. Strengthening IPC training through refresher training and demonstrating the correct use of PPE can enhance adherence to IPC measures.

Exposure to patients' sample and prevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus infection among health-care workers in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.

Hepatitis B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and together constitute the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer with attendant mortality. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among different categories of health-care workers, looking at the exposure to patients' samples and the prevalence rate among these categories of health workers. This will help to ascertain the risk and the need to pay more attention to preventive measures. This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a 2-year period among 217 health-care workers at the department of Haematology of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. Respondents were randomly selected, and blood samples were taken for the hepatitis B and C screening. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20; bivariate analyses were done, and the level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. A total of 13 (6.0%) tested positive for HBsAg. Analysis of the marital status of those that tested positive to Hepatitis B, revealed that the highest number (77%) was found among the married, while the singles and the divorced constitute 15.3% and 7.7% respectively. The nurses and nonhealth professionals (admin staff) constitute the highest positive yield of hepatitis B virus (HBV), followed by medical doctors and laboratory staff. The age of the respondent was found to have a statistically significant association with HBV serology (P < 0.05). There is a comparatively lower prevalence of HBsAg among the health-care workers who are directly exposed to patients' samples. The age of the respondent has a significant association with hepatitis B infection.

A Local Survey of COVID-19: Vaccine Potential Acceptance Rate among Personnel in a Level 1 Trauma Center without Severe COVID-19 Cases.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) in hospitals are at high risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers’ infection risk could be amplified during the ongoing pandemic due to various factors, including continuous exposure to patients and inadequate infection control training. Despite the risk healthcare workers face, vaccine hesitancy remains a global challenge. Differences in acceptance rates have ranged from less than 55% (in Russia) to nearly 90% (in China). In order to improve our knowledge of vaccine acceptance and its variation in rates, an evaluation is warranted. A survey was thus administered to healthcare workers. Methods: This survey aimed to address vaccination acceptance among employees in an urban level 1 trauma hospital. It was conducted through a developed and structured questionnaire that was randomly distributed online among the staff (age ≥18 years) to receive their feedback. Results: Among 285 participants (out of 995 employees), 69% were female, and 83.5% were overaged more than 30 years of age. The two largest groups were nurses (32%) and doctors (22%). The majority of respondents reported that they would “like to be vaccinated” (77.4%) and that they trusted the COVID-19 vaccine (62%). Moreover, 67.8% also reported that they felt the vaccination was effective. They reported that vaccination was a method to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (85.15%) and was a way to protect individuals with weak immune systems (78.2%). More importantly, the participants were concerned about other people (80.1%) and believed the vaccine would protect others. On the other hand, the result showed that the majority of participants (95.3%) chose to be vaccinated once everyone else was vaccinated, “I don’t need to get vaccinated”. Results showed that the majority of participants that chose “I don’t need to get vaccinated” did so after everyone else was vaccinated. Our results show that COVID-19 vaccination intention in a level 1 trauma hospital was associated with older age males who are more confident, and also share a collective responsibility, are less complacent, and have fewer constraints. Conclusion: Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine is relatively low among healthcare workers (HCWs). Differences in vaccine acceptance have been noted between different categories of HCWs and genders. Therefore, addressing barriers to vaccination acceptance among these HCWs is essential to avoid reluctance to receive the vaccination, but it will be challenging.

Stress, Sleep and Psychological Impact in Healthcare Workers During the Early Phase of COVID-19 in India: A Factor Analysis.

Background: Risks to healthcare workers have escalated during the pandemic and they are likely to experience a greater level of stress. This cross-sectional study investigated mental distress among healthcare workers during the early phase of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in India.Method: 140 healthcare workers of a tertiary care hospital in India were assessed for perceived stress and insomnia. A factor analysis with principal component method reduced these questions to four components which were categorized as insomnia, stress-related anxiety, stress-related irritability, and stress-related hopelessness. Further statistical analyses were done on these factor scores to identify the predictors and investigate the differences between the different categories of healthcare workers.Result: Doctors had the highest level of anxiety among the healthcare workers. Both doctors and nurses perceived a greater level of irritability than the other HCWs. Compared to doctors and nurses, other HCWs were more likely to experience insomnia. Lower age, higher education, female gender, and urban habitat were associated with greater perception of anxiety. Older age, being quarantined, and single marital status were the significant predictors of irritability. Female gender, single marital-status, and higher number of medical ailments contributed to perceived hopelessness. Quarantine significantly predicted insomnia.Conclusion: Different categories of healthcare workers are experiencing varied mental health problems owing to their heterogeneous socio-demographic backgrounds. Tailored and personalized care, as well as policies, might help in alleviating their problems. Further research is warranted to explore the psychological distress and remedies among these frontline workers during and after the ongoing pandemic crisis.

Promotion of the influenza vaccination to hospital staff during pre-employment health check: a prospective, randomised, controlled trial

BackgroundVaccination is the most effective prevention of seasonal influenza. Despite its recommendation and active promotion, vaccination coverage remains low among healthcare staff. The goal of the study was to test if a pre-employment health check is a good opportunity to promote future vaccination against influenza among healthcare workers newly hired by a university hospital.MethodsAll new hospital employees active at the bedside who underwent a pre-employment health check between the end of 2016’s influenza epidemic and the start of the next influenza vaccination campaign were randomly allocated to a control group or an intervention group. The intervention consisted of a semi-structured dialog and the release of an information leaflet about influenza and influenza vaccination during the check-up, and the shipment of a postcard reminder 2 weeks before the next vaccination campaign. Vaccination rates during the campaign were compared among the two groups.ResultsThree hundred fifty-seven employees were included. Vaccination rates were similar in both groups: 79/172 (46%) in the control and 92/185 (50%) in the intervention group. A significantly higher rate of vaccination was noted among physicians (70/117, 60%) than among other employees (101/240, 42%, p = 0.001). In a pre-defined exploratory analysis among physicians, the vaccination rate was higher in the intervention group (36/51, 71%) than in the control group (34/65, 52%, p = 0.046).ConclusionsPromotion of the influenza vaccine during pre-employment health check did not improve the vaccination rate of newly hired hospital healthcare workers overall during the next influenza vaccination campaign. Results suggest a favourable impact on the vaccination rate of physicians. Thus, there may be an interest in using communication strategies tailored to the different categories of healthcare workers to promote the influenza vaccine during pre-employment health check.Trial registrationClinicalTrials, NCT02758145. Registered 26 April 2016.

Stress and Stigmatization in Health-Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background:The health-care workers showed the highest risks of the adverse psychological reactions from the COVID-19 pandemic.Aim:This study aimed to evaluate the structure and severity of psychological distress and stigmatization in different categories of health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and Methods:This study included two phases of online survey in 1800 Russian-speaking health-care workers (March 30 – April 5 and May 4 – May 10, 2020). The Psychological Stress Scale (PSM-25) and modified Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination scale (Cronbach's α = 0.74) were used. Dispersion analysis was performed with P = 0.05, Cohen's d, and Cramer's V calculated (effect size [ES]).Results:The psychological stress levels decreased in the second phase (ES = 0.13), while the stigma levels (ES = 0.33) increased. Physicians experienced more stress compared with nurses and paramedical personnel (ES = 0.34; 0.64), but were less likely to stigmatize SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals (ES = 0.43; 0.41). The increasing probability of contact with infected individuals was associated with higher levels of psychological stress (probable contact ES = 0.48; definite contact ES=0.97). The highest rates of contacts with COVID-19 patients were reported by physicians (χ2 = 123.0; P = 0.00, Cramer's V = 0.2), the youngest (ES = 0.5), and less experienced medical workers (ES = 0.33).Conclusion:Direct contact with coronavirus infection is associated with a significant increase in stress among medical personnel. The pandemic compromises the psychological well-being of the youngest and highly qualified specialists. However, the stigmatizing reactions are not directly associated with the risks of infection and are most prevalent among nurses and paramedical personnel.

Hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in a superspeciality tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Hand hygiene (HH) is an important tool in the prevention of transmission of infections in hospitals; however, it is often an aspect which is neglected by healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, ongoing training and education, introduction of hand rubs at every bedside, displaying posters of the indications of HH as well as the six important steps of HH are some of the important measures to increase compliance. Assessment of compliance and feedback is again important so as to take measures to improve further the compliance and thus the infection rates in the hospital.Methodology: We studied the compliance rate in the year 2018. We had different categories of HCWs. The total number of HCWs was 594, out of which a representative percentage was taken from each category. The study was conducted according to the WHO guidelines.Results: We found the compliance rate to be low in months when there was a turnover of staff, that is, some old staff members left and new staff were recruited. Hence, we found the compliance to be good in housekeepers, technicians, doctors/consultants and nurses, but low in resident medical officers and attendants, with the probable reason being they were most of the times not available for training sessions and sometimes negligence.Conclusion: Ongoing training sessions, education of the HCWs, posters of HH in all wards and intensive care units and motivation are absolutely essential to maintain an effective compliance. Efforts taken by our infection control nurse and administrators did help us in improving our compliance rate this year.