Hospital Executives Research Articles

An Empirical Investigation of Organizational Readiness towards Hospital Autonomy.

We aimed to investigate Tehran's University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) affiliated hospitals organizational readiness toward implementing the 'Autonomous Hospitals' program as a change initiative from a managerial perspective in 2020. A census covering all eligible managers working in TUMS affiliated hospitals, Tehran, Iran (350 individuals) was carried out. Overall, 281 questionnaires were returned (a 30% non-responsiveness rate). A standard construct was adopted for data collection which was validated through a process of translation- back translation, face validity, and content validity (CVI=0.86, CVR=0.76). The reliability was acquired using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.87 and over 0.7). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to draw conclusions .SPSS 26 was used for data analysis. Total organizational readiness for change (TORC) in hospitals was 60.75%±10.11 showing a state of medium to upper-medium readiness status. Also, the 'Clear mandate and centralized leadership' theme scored the lowest mean (53.02%±15.78) for ORC. 'Hospital accreditation level' (r=-0.14, P≤0.05), 'bed occupancy rate' (r=-0.19, P ≤0.05), and 'leadership status' (r=0.26, P≤0.001), also showed significant association with TORC. In addition, 'standardized bed occuPancy rate' (P≤0.05, B=-2.41), a 'male' leader (P ≤0.05, B=3.42), and 'academic affiliation' (P≤0. 1, B=-9.52), were good Predictors of TORC based on 'Backward Multiple Linear Regression' analysis. Full support from hospital and headquarters executives, delegation of sufficient decision-making authority to hospital managers, and implementation of comprehensive performance evaluation criteria were prerequisites for robust hospital autonomy in TUMS-affiliated hospitals.

A Framework for Antecedents to Health Information Systems Uptake by Healthcare Professionals: An Exploratory Study of Electronic Medical Records

Health information systems (HISs) are essential information systems used by organisations and individuals for various purposes. Past research has studied different types of HIS, such as rostering systems, Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), and Personal Health Records (PHRs). Although several past confirmatory studies have quantitatively examined EMR uptake by health professionals, there is a lack of exploratory and qualitative studies that uncover various drivers of healthcare professionals’ uptake of EMRs. Applying an exploratory and qualitative approach, this study introduces various antecedents of healthcare professionals’ uptake of EMRs. This study conducted 78 semi-structured, open-ended interviews with 15 groups of healthcare professional users of EMRs in two large Australian hospitals. Data analysis of qualitative data resulted in proposing a framework comprising 23 factors impacting healthcare professionals’ uptake of EMRs, which are categorised into ten main categories: perceived benefits of EMR, perceived difficulties, hardware/software compatibility, job performance uncertainty, ease of operation, perceived risk, assistance society, user confidence, organisational support, and technological support. Our findings have important implications for various practitioner groups, such as healthcare policymakers, hospital executives, hospital middle and line managers, hospitals’ IT departments, and healthcare professionals using EMRs. Implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are provided herein in detail.

Building a Special Pathogen Response Center from the Ground Up

Background: In September 2022, UNC Hospitals was awarded a Regional Emerging Special Pathogens Treatment Center (RESPTC) grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to care for up to two patients with viral hemorrhagic fever, or similar pathogen, and up to ten patients with novel respiratory pathogens. Intensive infection prevention efforts and timely multidisciplinary commitment was required to develop the Space, Strategy, Staff, and Stuff needed to care for patients with a special pathogen. Methods: Multiple space needs assessments were undertaken to acquire spaces for the care of patients, simulation training, and a dedicated laboratory. Strategies for developing the response plan required collaboration with hospital executives, nursing leadership, public health leaders, and regional partners. Staff were recruited across various disciplines to join the response team and were provided hands-on skills training which was assessed by post-training surveys. Specialized ‘stuff’ (i.e., PPE, training equipment, and waste management devices) were researched and procured for use by the team. Results: Patient care and dedicated laboratory space was identified within existing infrastructure, and renovation plans were developed to adapt the space for these specialized activities. A waste management plan that benefits the hospital for routine waste and allows for Category A waste management was approved. Fifty-three staff members were recruited from 3 main disciplines (RNs, MDs, Paramedics), and across numerous settings (Medicine Acute Care & ICU, Pediatric ICU & Stepdown, Air Care/Transport, Burn ICU, Surgery Stepdown, Emergency Medicine, Infection Prevention, Infectious Disease) were trained during five 4-hour training sessions, culminating in an exercise involving transporting a rule–out Ebola patient to the hospital’s special pathogens unit. Post-training evaluations demonstrated a very high level of confidence (‘strongly agree’) in staffs’ knowledge about the RESPTC site (92.3%), special pathogens (80.8%), collaboration needed for managing patient care (80.8%), and in their comfort with special PPE donning and doffing (73.1%). Conclusions: Using a systematic approach to develop Space, Strategy, Staff, and Stuff, a large academic hospital readied itself to become a new RESPTC site. Key lessons learned include the importance of a multidisciplinary response team; local, state, and regional coordination for care planning and delivery; and early community partnership development. Logistical infrastructure and waste management challenges continue to require partnership with hospital leadership to optimize workflows and patient care. Holistic decision-making around infrastructure has led to changes that benefit all hospital patients and offer efficiencies toDisclosure: William Fischer: Consultant - Roche, Merck, Inhalon Biopharma; Speaker for ACGME - IMG. David J Weber: Consultant on vaccines: Pfizer; DSMB chair: GSK; Consultant on disinfection: BD, GAMA, PDI, Germitec

Changes in Registered Nurse Employment Plans and Workplace Assessments

The US registered nurse (RN) workforce is in flux, with high rates of burnout, intention to leave, and vacancies. Rapid, repeated assessments of the nursing workforce can help hospital executives and policymakers enact effective recruitment and retention strategies. To identify changes in practicing RNs' employment plans and workplace assessments between the 2022 and 2023 surveys. This survey study compared data collected from the Michigan Nurses' Study at 2 time points: February 22 to March 1, 2022, and May 17 to June 1, 2023. Practicing RNs with an active, unrestricted license in Michigan and a valid individual email address were included. The primary outcome was nurses' intention to leave their current position within 1 year. In the 2023 survey, nurses who planned to leave were queried on their next career step and the primary reason for their planned departure. Workplace assessments included questions about abusive or violent workplace events, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, the practice environment's delivery of high-quality care, and the clinical setting's safety rating. Regression analysis was used to examine workplace assessments and personal factors associated with planned departures. This study obtained data on 9150 nurses (6495 females [71.0%]) and 7059 nurses (5134 females [72.7%]) responding to the 2022 (response rate, 8.3%) and 2023 (response rate, 7.4%) surveys, respectively. In the 2023 survey, 32.0% (2259) of nurses planned to leave their position, compared with 39.1% (3576) in the 2022 survey. Of these nurses, 957 (41.8%) planned to leave their current employer but remain in nursing, with workloads as the most frequently cited reason (29.4% [672]). Compared with the 2022 cohort, nurses in the 2023 sample reported less workplace abuse or violence (4591 [50.2%] vs 3063 [43.4%]; P < .001), fewer understaffed shifts (4407 [48.2%] vs 2898 [41.0%]; P < .001), and less frequent use of mandatory overtime (1709 [18.7%] vs 824 [11.7%]; P < .001). Factors associated with increased likelihood for planned departures included workplace abuse or violence (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% CI, 1.05-1.82) and higher emotional exhaustion scores (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 2.38-3.91). Favorable practice environments (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.22-0.62) and excellent clinical setting safety ratings (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.14-0.56) were associated with lower likelihood of planned departure. Results of this study showed that nurses reported improved workplace conditions in the 2023 vs the 2022 survey; however, planned departure rates, abusive or violent events, and unsafe conditions remained high, and understaffing remained a primary concern for most nurses. Health system leaders and policymakers should prioritize initiatives that support nurse retention and reduce potential workforce instability.

The mediating role of job satisfaction and competitive advantage between quality management practices and sustainable performance: Case of hospitals in Guangxi, China

BACKGROUND: Ensuring medical quality and safety is the perpetual focus of healthcare management. Hospitals must prioritize quality management for sustainable growth. However, the complexity of quality management in hospitals, coupled with evolving practices, presents challenges. Achieving the integration of economic, environmental, and social benefits for high-quality development remains difficult. While quality management practices are acknowledged as strategic tools, their impact on job satisfaction, competitive advantage, and sustainable performance is not yet fully understood. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to empirically demonstrate the relationship between quality management practices, job satisfaction, competitive advantage, and sustainable performance. METHODS: The study uses a quantitative research method. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Guangxi, China, among 171 quality management executives in secondary and tertiary hospitals, and the proposed research model was validated using PLS-SEM. RESULTS: The results showed that quality management practices have positive direct and indirect effects on sustainable performance, confirming the partial mediating role of job satisfaction, and competitive advantage in the relationship between quality management practices and sustainable performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses a gap in quality management literature by exploring the relationship between quality management practices, job satisfaction, competitive advantage, and sustainable performance. Findings reveal that higher implementation of quality management practices correlates with increased job satisfaction, stronger competitive advantage, and enhanced sustainable performance in hospitals. These results suggest that implementing quality management practices can boost job satisfaction, enhance competitive advantage, and promote sustainable performance, offering valuable insights for hospital leaders.

The Influence of Effective Communication and Responsiveness of Pediatricians on Patient Loyalty with Patient Trust as an Intervening Variable at the Depok Hospital Executive Polyclinic

The Influence of Effective Communication and Responsiveness of Pediatricians on Patient Loyalty with Patient Trust as an Intervening Variable at the Depok Hospital Executive Polyclinic

What makes hospitality and tourism executives adopt information and communication technology: Antecedents and outcomes of ICT adoption

While previous hospitality and tourism research has concentrated on the benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption from the perspectives of customers and suppliers, less attention has been placed on this stream of research from an upper echelons perspective. Furthermore, a limited number of studies have explored the relationship between ICT adoption and its financial implications. Using various theoretical foundations (i.e., upper echelons theory, industrial organization theory, resource-based view, and organizational learning theory), this study attempts to provide an overarching conceptual framework that can explain the antecedents and consequences of adopting ICT. More specifically, this paper delves into industry- and firm-specific conditions to better understand the relationship between a top management team’s (TMT) attributes and ICT adoption as well as the relationship between ICT adoption and its financial implications.

Leaders’ experiences of embedding a simulation-based education programme in a teaching hospital: an interview study informed by normalisation process theory

There is limited research on the experiences of people in working to embed, integrate and sustain simulation programmes. This interview-based study explored leaders’ experiences of normalising a simulation-based education programme in a teaching hospital. Fourteen known simulation leaders across Australia and North America were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis sensitised by normalisation process theory, an implementation science theory which defines ‘normal’ as something being embedded, integrated and sustained. We used a combined social and experiential constructivist approach. Four themes were generated from the data: (1) Leadership, (2) business startup mindset, (3) poor understanding of simulation undermines normalisation and (4) tension of competing objectives. These themes were interlinked and represented how leaders experienced the process of normalising simulation. There was a focus on the relationships that influence decision-making of simulation leaders and organisational buy-in, such that what started as a discrete programme becomes part of normal hospital operations. The discourse of ‘survival’ was strong, and this indicated that simulation being normal or embedded and sustained was still more a goal than a reality. The concept of being like a ‘business startup’ was regarded as significant as was the feature of leadership and how simulation leaders influenced organisational change. Participants spoke of trying to normalise simulation for patient safety, but there was also a strong sense that they needed to be agile and innovative and that this status is implied when simulation is not yet ‘normal’. Leadership, change management and entrepreneurship in addition to implementation science may all contribute towards understanding how to embed, integrate and sustain simulation in teaching hospitals without losing responsiveness. Further research on how all stakeholders view simulation as a normal part of a teaching hospital is warranted, including simulation participants, quality and safety teams and hospital executives. This study has highlighted that a shared understanding of the purpose and breadth of simulation is a prerequisite for embedding and sustaining simulation. An approach of marketing simulation beyond simulation-based education as a patient safety and systems improvement mindset, not just a technique nor technology, may assist towards simulation being sustainably embedded within teaching hospitals.

Identifying the contributors to nursing caring success stories.

To (a) seek examples of nursing caring success stories and (b) identify the common contributors to these successes. By focusing on the successes of nursing care rather than critically examining failures, this research seeks to provide examples of proven and feasible approaches and processes for improving care. This study used a narrative inquiry design. Data were collected through group interviews. Four interviews were conducted with a total of 20 nurse participants working in inpatient settings in South Australian hospitals. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Two dominant themes concerning the contributors to caring success were identified. These contributors were (1) the provision of holistic care and (2) the influence of the caring community, which includes family members and other patients. The findings also indicated that the definition of caring success according to nurses is not aligned with organisational performance indicators but is more closely represented by caring values. Success, according to nurses, is not exclusively defined by patient outcomes but includes the approach to, and process of, care delivery. Nurses value the caring process while working in an environment that primarily values clinical and systems-level outcomes. Nurses want patients and their families, allied health professionals and hospital executives to be involved and invested in the process of care. This study addressed a gap in the current literature to identify commonalities in nursing success stories, the contributors informing these successes and how these contributors can facilitate improved patient care. Understanding nursing definitions of caring success provides an opportunity to expand upon current accepted industry definitions and perspectives such as key performance indicators. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. No direct patient or public contribution.

Lights, camera, action! Adding showmanship to the hospitality servicescape and experiencescape to attract customers: a management perspective

PurposeRestaurants are challenged to secure attraction attributes that provide motives, satisfaction and experiences for guests. The social interaction between server and guest can provide. Our case study aims to examine the perspectives of hospitality executives towards showmanship and server performances in restaurants to enhance servicescape and elevate guest experiences.Design/methodology/approachA literature review examined employee showmanship as part of the cocreation of gastronomic experiences and servicescape. Additional data were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 15 hospitality executives affiliated with Macao’s integrated resorts (IRs), and the information was examined using thematic analysis.FindingsThe study outcomes showed management support for showmanship performed by servers or chefs in cocreating immersive memorable dining experiences and social media and user-generated content (UGC). This was perceived to distinguish a restaurant from the competition. However, server talent and showmanship interaction with guests must be well managed, and bundled with additional restaurant servicescape attributes.Practical implicationsThe comments from hospitality management provide key insights towards implementing and maintaining showmanship which will involve resource challenges including server artisan talent and restaurant design.Originality/valueServer showmanship social interaction and value cocreation with guests are rarely discussed, although a key part of guest restaurant motivation and in creating an immersive experience. We address the limited understanding of hospitality management assessment towards developing showmanship, providing practical perspectives to assist restaurant and bar management to integrate and develop showmanship to enhance customer dining experiences.

Professional Management Competence of Chinese Hospital Executives: An Analysis

Over the past few decades, China's healthcare industry has seen tremendous alterations. The position of hospital executives, who play a crucial role in directing the course of healthcare organisations, is central to these shifts. This study offers a thorough investigation of Chinese hospital executives' professional management proficiency. The study explores several aspects of this competency, including planning ability, control ability, and problem-solving ability, by using a mixed-method approach. These factors are essential for guaranteeing better patient outcomes and efficient hospital administration. The study also finds several outside variables that affect these competencies, including leadership dynamics, policy ambiguity, and training programmes. This study provides a thorough understanding of the management environment among Chinese hospital executives by in-depth examinations of the literature, interviews, and a questionnaire survey. The research's conclusions not only provide important context for China's hospital management procedures, but they also pave the way for more studies in this area. The study emphasises the significance of improving hospital executives' professional competencies and the demand for focused interventions in this area. Hospital CEOs' roles will become ever more important as China's healthcare system develops. The present study makes a substantial contribution to the current corpus of information by illuminating the abilities necessary for efficient hospital administration in China

Toward Restorative Hospital Environment: Nature and Art in Finnish Hospitals.

This study explores the integration of nature and art in recent hospital construction projects in Finland, focusing on public hospitals. Interviews with 15 stakeholders, including hospital executives, workers, designers, artists, and architects, reveal the value placed on nature and nature-themed art in hospital settings. The research question presented was: How nature and art are incorporated in Finnish hospitals in order to achieve a restorative hospital environment? Findings highlight themes that appeared in different hospitals: (1) the desired atmosphere, (2) nature and multisensory experiences, (3) social support, and (4) sense of connection and belonging. Bringing nature inside the hospital, whether through natural elements or artworks, emerges as a promising approach. Despite positive outcomes, challenges such as cost and maintenance persist, indicating the need for further research to optimize these initiatives. Overall, incorporating nature and art in hospitals has the potential to enhance healing and well-being for patients, families, and healthcare workers.

Effect of compassion fatigue on emotional labor in female nurses: Moderating effect of self-compassion.

A two-stage survey design with a convenience sample. Participants were female nursing staff recruited from emergency departments, intensive care units, ward nursing units, and outpatient departments of medical centers, regional hospitals, and district hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 300 questionnaire copies in each of the first and second stages were distributed, and 272 pairs of responses were retrieved (valid response rate = 91%). The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were tested, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with AMOS 21. The proposed hypotheses were verified using hierarchical regression conducted with SPSS version 25.0. This study revealed that compassion fatigue positively predicted surface acting (β = 0.12, p < 0.05) and negatively predicted deep acting (β = -0.18, p < 0.01) and expression of genuine emotions (β = -0.31, p < 0.01). In addition, self-compassion negatively moderates the relationships between compassion fatigue and surface acting (β = -0.12, p < 0.05), and positively moderates the relationships between compassion fatigue and expression of genuine emotions (β = 0.15, p < 0.01). To avoid excessive consumption of emotional resources, nurses with high compassion fatigue may employ surface acting by engaging in emotional labor without making an effort to adjust their feelings. Nurses need also be sympathized with, and such sympathy can come from hospitals, supervisors, colleagues, and, most crucially, the nurses themselves. Hospital executives should propose improvement strategies that can prevent the compassion fatigue on nurses, such as improving nurses' self-compassion.

Sustainability of rural Victorian maternity services: ‘We can work together’

BackgroundRural maternity service closures and service level reductions are continually increasing across Victoria. There is limited understanding of how rural board members and executives make decisions about their maternity service’s operations and sustainability. AimTo examine perspectives of rural Victorian board members and executives on the sustainability of rural maternity services. MethodsThis was a qualitative study. Interviews were conducted via Zoom™ with 16 rural Victorian hospital board members and executives. Data were thematically analysed. FindingsSevere shortages in the rural maternity workforce, primarily midwives, have contributed to service sustainability decisions. Challenges in offering midwifery workforce incentives cause difficulty in overcoming workforce shortages. A rural maternity workforce strategy harnessing connection with regional services was called for. Innovative models of maternity care were often actioned at the point of service suspension or closure. Participants requested a government policy position and funding for innovative, safe, and sustainable models of care in rural settings. DiscussionThere is an opportunity for workforce planning to occur between regional and rural services to ensure the development of sustainable maternity models such as midwifery group practice and incentivise the workforce to address current deficits and sustain service provision. ConclusionModels of care developed with rural communities, in collaboration with regional services, have the potential to strengthen the delivery of safe, sustainable maternity services. Workforce modelling and centralised government policies aimed at arresting workforce deficits are suggested to provide rural health service leaders with strategic and operational directions to support the delivery of safe, sustainable maternity services.

Professional management competence of chinese hospital executives: an analysis

Over the past few decades, China's healthcare industry has seen tremendous alterations. The position of hospital executives, who play a crucial role in directing the course of healthcare organizations, is central to these shifts. This study offers a thorough investigation of Chinese hospital executives' professional management proficiency. The study explores several aspects of this competency, including planning ability, control ability, and problem-solving ability, by using a mixed-method approach. These factors are essential for guaranteeing better patient outcomes and efficient hospital administration. The study also finds several outside variables that affect these competencies, including leadership dynamics, policy ambiguity, and training programmes. This study provides a thorough understanding of the management environment among Chinese hospital executives by in-depth examinations of the literature, interviews, and a questionnaire survey. The research's conclusions not only provide important context for China's hospital management procedures, but they also pave the way for more studies in this area. The study emphasizes the significance of improving hospital executives' professional competencies and the demand for focused interventions in this area. Hospital CEOs' roles will become ever more important as China's healthcare system develops. The present study makes a substantial contribution to the current corpus of information by illuminating the abilities necessary for efficient hospital administration in China

Utilizing Asynchronous Email Interviewing for Qualitative Research Among Multiple Participant Groups: Perspectives on Met and Unmet Needs From Chaplain Staffing

Asynchronous email interviewing has been increasingly utilized as an electronic method of data collection in qualitative research, because it eliminates the need for costly travel and transcription and allows more time for participants to react with thoughtful, reflective responses. While research indicates that data collected in written form is comparable in content and richness with that collected in-person, via telephone, or through virtual live interactions, there is the risk of participant attrition, loss of trust-building with subjects and missing non-verbal/visual cues for the researcher. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate use of asynchronous email interviewing as applied to a study on expectations and demands of chaplains in hospital settings. Unique in this approach is the inclusion of multiple participant groups over a large geographical area. Data were collected among chaplains, chaplain leaders, nurses, hospital executives, and patients and family members across a multi-state healthcare system. Although enrollment was adequate, 37% of those enrolled did not respond to initial interview emails, and of those who did respond, only 42% responded to follow-up questions. For several participants who did not respond to requests for email interviews, subsequent invitations to participate in live virtual interviews were preferred. Analysis reflected significant differences between groups in the quantity, quality, and richness of data, which may reflect communication patterns and preferences, time restrictions, and subject matter engagement. Based on study findings, it is suggested that similar studies offer options of interview modalities to participants to best meet their preferences and schedules.

Health-Analytics Readiness Assessment: Elaborated Action Design Research and Nascent Theoretical Implications

Health analytics (HA) technology enables and enhances fact-based decision-making capabilities of hospitals in the clinical, operational, and administrative domains. It is, however, the case that HA success presupposes a hospital's readiness to adopt, absorb, and put the technology to effective use. Currently, there is a paucity of research that focuses on how hospital executives can assess their organization's readiness for HA. The principal objective of our study is to fill this gap. We design HA readiness-assessment artifacts guided by cross-sectional case studies to inform the design and the elaborated action design research approach that extends past artifacts through iterative collaboration with practitioners and industry experts. This article details the design process and artifacts and highlights implications for nascent theory and generalizable knowledge.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Needlesticks and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers of Hospital in Bule Hora, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia.

Healthcare workers face a significant risk of sharp and needle-stick injuries, which can increase the likelihood of spreading illnesses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Currently, there is no available information on the prevalence or contributing factors of needle sticks and sharp injuries (NSSI) in hospitals in southern Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the needle sticks and sharp injuries among health care workers at the BHUTH, Southern Ethiopia. The study was a cross-sectional study conducted at an institution in October 2023, with 164 randomly selected participants. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic factors and exposure status. The data was entered and analyzed using Epi-Data and SPSS. The risk factors were identified by binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A P-value less than .05 was considered statistical significance. The overall prevalence of at least one Needle sticks and sharp injuries in the last 12 months was 46.4% (95% CI of 39.3% to 53.6%). The majority of injuries 45.8% were due to the syringe needle. Factors such as needle recap (AOR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.07-12.19), Recapping with two hands (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.36-10.02), working 40 hours per week (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 0.98-6.86), and lack of training in occupational safety practices (AOR = 4.01, 95% CI: 2.60-9.91), were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of needle stick and sharp injuries. This study found that nearly half of the respondents experienced a sharp needle poke and injury at least once in the previous year; however, the volume of NSSI remains high in the study area. Healthcare workers should receive on-the-job training, and hospital executives should set aside time for discussions on how to solve the problem.

Needlesticks and sharp injuries and their associated factors among health care workers of Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundThis study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of needle sticks and sharp injuries among healthcare workers at the Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia from December 1 to 30, 2023. MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic factors and exposure status. Epi-Data and SPSS were used to enter and analyze data. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistical significance. ResultsIn this study, the prevalence of at least one Needlesticks and sharp injuries in the last 12 months was 46.4 % (95 % CI: 39.3 %-53.6 %). Of most needlesticks and sharp injuries, 47.2 % were superficial skin injuries. The majority of injuries 45.8 % were due to the syringe needle. Factors such as needle recap (AOR=3.73, 95 % CI: 1.07–12.19), Recapping with two hands (AOR=2.78, 95 % CI: 1.36–10.02), working 40 h per week (AOR=2.18, 95 % CI: 0.98–6.86), lack of training in occupational safety practices (AOR=4.01, 95 % CI: 2.60–9.91), and lack of job satisfaction were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of needlesticks and sharp injuries. ConclusionThis study found that nearly half of the respondents experienced a sharp needle poke and injury at least once in the previous year; however, the volume of NSSI remains high in the study area. Healthcare personnel should receive on-the-job training, and hospital executives should set aside time for discussions on how to solve the problem.

Health Promoting Self-Care: Evaluating the Impact of 28-Day Food and Fitness Program on the Physical and Mental Well-Being of Health Care Workers

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of the 28-Day Food and Fitness Program on the physical and mental well-being of health care workers. Social determinants of health significantly impact an individual’s overall well-being and quality of life. Access to nutritious foods and physical activity is crucial to positive physical and mental well-being. The urgency for hospital executives, administrators, and leaders to prioritize the physical and mental well-being of health care workers has become increasingly evident with unprecedented rates of burnout, stress, and turnover following the COVID-19 pandemic. This 8-week prospective cohort study followed 65 multidisciplinary health care workers from a single Santa Monica, California, hospital, who voluntarily signed-up for a 28-day Food and Fitness Program in the spring of 2022. Participants completed body composition testing pre- and-post-intervention, and were surveyed using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale at baseline, 28 days (4 weeks), and 56 days (8 weeks). Pre- and-post-intervention data showed nonsignificant decreases in variables such as weight and body mass index with increases in lean body and skeletal muscle mass. Mean scores for all 3 subcategories of the ProQOL numerically improved from baseline, but did not reach statistical significance. Preliminary results support use of the 28-Day Food and Fitness Program to improve caregiver physical and mental well-being, but further research is needed to quantify impact more reliably.