Longer Work Experience Research Articles

Factors associated with nurses' self-efficacy in oral care at Oulu University Hospital, Finland.

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with nurses' self-efficacy in oral care among infection-sensitive patients in a university hospital. All the nurses working in five wards of internal medicine and one department of oncology at Oulu University Hospital, Finland (n = 114) were recruited. Data were collected with a questionnaire containing 10 self-efficacy items (scored 0 to 10) and nine knowledge items (five-point Likert scale) that were validated in an earlier pilot study. Factor analysis was performed for the self-efficacy scale and a mean score was calculated for the knowledge scale. A multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze the association between explanatory variables and self-efficacy factor scores. Factor analysis revealed self-efficacy factors: Practical skills, Self-confidence in taking care of patients' oral hygiene, and Confidence in detecting oral problems (factor scores varied between 4.9 and 8.8). A higher mean score for the knowledge scale was positively associated with the factor Practical skills (B = 0.5, p < 0.05). Longer working experience was associated with higher factor scores in Self-confidence in taking care of patients` oral hygiene and Confidence in detecting oral problems. Better oral health-related knowledge and longer working experience were positively associated with oral health-related self-efficacy.

Stress coping and resilience of frontline nurses under the emergency infectious disease pandemic: A latent class analysis

AimThis study aimed to classify coping strategies and resilience among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients using latent class analysis (LCA), and to compare variations across these subgroups. BackgroundThe pandemic of emerging infectious diseases is a traumatic stressor for frontline nurses, potentially leading to compassion fatigue. Effective coping strategies and resilience were essential for managing stress, but their nuanced classification and outcomes remain unclear. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2022. Purposive and snowball sampling was utilized to recruit participants. ResultsA total of 215 clinical nurses (mean age 34.59 years) were recruited. A three-class model showed the best fit: class 1 (35.8 %) with proactive coping and high resilience, class 2 (29.8 %) with mixed coping and high resilience, and class 3 (34.4 %) with avoidance coping and low resilience. Compared to class 3, class 1 participants had lower stress (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.37, 95 % CI: 0.143–0.950, P = 0.039), reduced risk of compassion fatigue (OR = 0.29, 95 % CI: 1.110–4.536, P < 0.001), and lower intention to quit (OR = 0.39, 95 % CI: 0.175–0.843, P = 0.017). Class 2 participants, with higher proportion to live with family, had longer work experience, higher income, and also showed significantly reduced intention to quit (OR = 0.386, 95 % CI: 0.168–0.887, P = 0.025). ConclusionsIdentifying these vulnerable groups can help in providing interventions to reduce stress and prevent compassion fatigue and intention to quit.

Patient Safety Culture in a Tertiary Referral Hospital: Evidence from a Main Criterion in Accreditation

Objectives: In Iran’s accreditation program, the patient safety dimension is one of the main dimensions, holding the highest weight among the accreditation criteria. The purpose of this study was to identify the patient safety culture (PSC) in a tertiary referral hospital. Methods: The current study was conducted between March and April 2021 in a tertiary hospital in Iran. The sample size was 628 participants, selected through simple random sampling. The hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPSC) was used to assess provider and staff perceptions about patient safety issues, medical errors, and event reporting. The survey included 32 items that measure 10 dimensions of PSC. Normality tests, along with non-parametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, were used to examine the relationship between PSC and demographic variables using SPSS 22 software. Results: Based on current findings, among the 10 dimensions of PSC, teamwork and organizational learning-continuous improvement received the highest scores (83% positive response), which were higher than these variables in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) data. Conversely, staffing and work pace, as well as hospital management support for patient safety, received the lowest positive scores (43% and 55% positive response, respectively), which were lower than these variables in the AHRQ data. There was a significant positive relationship between dimensions of PSC and older age, female gender, staff with longer working experience, and longer work hours per week (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: The majority of our participants felt that patient safety needs to be enhanced. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended to emphasize the dimensions of “staffing and work pace” and “hospital management support for patient safety” more in the accreditation criteria to strengthen these dimensions in hospitals. Additionally, we have introduced a comprehensive guide for using an international tool to measure PSC, which hospitals can use to succeed in annual accreditation.

Are workers also vulnerable to the impact of ambient air pollution? Insight from a large-scale ventilatory exam

It remains unclear how ambient air pollution may affect the prevalence of obstructive ventilatory dysfunction (OVD) among workers. We aim to assess the association of a comprehensive set of ambient air pollutants with OVD prevalence in workers and to explore the potential interactive effects of the occupational factors. This is a population-based cross-sectional study among 305,022 participants from the Guangdong Province, China. Mixed-effects models were used to obtain differences in the OVD risk associated with a 10 μg/m3 increase in ambient air pollution. We found that for each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, PM coarse, O3, and NO2 concentrations, the odds ratio (OR) for OVD in workers is 1.324 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.282–1.367), 1.292 (95 % CI, 1.268–1.315),1.666 (95 % CI, 1.614–1.719), 1.153 (95 % CI, 1.142–1.165), and 1.023 (95 % CI, 1.012–1.033). We observed that young participants (18–38 years old), women, participants with longer years of service (>48 months), participants working in large enterprises, professional skills workers, and production and manufacturing workers have higher estimated effects. In addition, we also found that workers exposed to high temperatures have higher estimated effects under air pollutants exposure, while workers exposed to noise have higher estimated effects under PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 exposure. Workers exposed to dust have a lower risk of developing OVD under exposure to ambient air pollutants compared to those not exposed. Our results indicate that ambient air pollution increases the risk of OVD in workers. Moreover, air pollutants exhibit a greater estimated effect among workers exposed to high temperatures or noise. Our research findings highlight the importance of fully considering the impact of ambient air pollution on protecting the respiratory health of workers.

Stress, burnout and coping among nurses working on acute medical wards and in the community: A quantitative study.

Psychological distress can cause burnout, which affects mental and physical well-being. It is important to identify factors associated with psychological distress and physical discomfort and how nurses deal with these problems. The aim was to investigate distress, burnout and coping among community nurses (CN) and hospital nurses (HN). In this cross-sectional study, 409 nurses completed three questionnaires: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and Ways of Coping (WOC). Participants younger than 40 demonstrated significantly more distress and burnout than those older than 40 years. Participants who had moderate and high distress on the PSS were significantly more at risk for experiencing personal, work-related and patient-related burnout. A significant positive correlation was found between distress and behavioural escape-avoidance, cognitive escape-avoidance and distancing. Significant positive correlations were also seen between all the subscales of the CBI and behavioural escape-avoidance, cognitive escape-avoidance and distancing. Positive significant correlation was also obtained between staff resources and distress and personal-related and work-related burnout. Negative correlation was demonstrated between staff resources and patient-related burnout. Participants with longer work experience were less likely to report moderate or high distress, and those who scored higher on personal burnout and behavioural escape-avoidance were more likely to have moderate or high distress. The results of this study call for increased attention to the younger generation in the nursing profession. The results also validate the need to investigate further the correlation between distress, burnout and coping and how these issues might influence each other among nurses working in the community and hospitals. Findings should be taken with precaution, they do not describe in detail what underlying factors contribute to distress and discomfort found in this study, they do, however, indicate certain coping strategies nurses use to deal with distress and burnout.

Literacy and Attitude Toward Suicide Among Doctors and Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.

Introduction Globally, suicide remains a major public health problem and is the second most common cause of death in the 15-45 years age group. Awareness about suicide and the attitude of healthcare professionals regarding suicide are crucial factors determining the care for suicidal behaviors. The present study aimed to compare suicide literacy and attitude towardsuicide between doctors and nurses and to explore the association between suicide literacy and attitude toward suicide. Methods A cross-sectional comparison study was conducted between doctors and nurses in a tertiary healthcare center in southern India. The demographic characteristics and work and suicide care experience were recorded using a semi-structured proforma. Literacy of Suicide Scale - Short Form (LOSS-SF) and Attitude Toward Suicide Questionnaire (ATTS) were used to assess the awareness about suicidal behaviors and attitudes towardsuicide, respectively. Appropriate statistical tests were used to compare the outcome measures between doctors and nurses with the statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results A total of 600 healthcare professionals (doctors (n=300) and nurses (n=300)) were included. The doctors were older, had longer work experience, and demonstrated better suicide literacy, yet harbored more negative attitudes towardsuicide than nurses. Among doctors, increasing levels of suicide literacy were negatively correlated with positive attitudes towardsuicide. Among nurses, increasing age was negatively correlated with healthy attitudes towardsuicide. Conclusion Doctors had better awareness of suicidal behaviors yet displayed negative attitudes towardpeople with suicidal behaviors. Despite having less suicide awareness, nurses exhibited positive attitudes towardsuicide. Suicide literacy and attitudes towardsuicide can have complex relationships mediated by multiple factors.

Willingness and self-confidence of healthcare workers in Bahrain in assisting with in-flight emergencies.

In-flight medical emergency (IFE) impose considerable challenges on healthcare workers (HCWs) because of limited resources, constrained environment, and medico-legal issues. This study assessed HCWs knowledge, willingness, and confidence in addressing in-flight medical emergencies. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2023 among nurses and physicians working in primary healthcare centers and governmental hospitals in Bahrain. Subjects were selected using stratified random sampling; a self-administered online questionnaire of high reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.914) was used to collect the data. Logistic regression analysis were performed to determine association of knowledge, willingness, and confidence in dealing with in-flight emergencies with various characteristics of HCWs. The study included 805 HCWs with mean age of 35.5 years (SD=9.2). The findings indicated deficiency in training, with <10% of participants trained on IFE. A considerable proportion of participants exhibited low levels of knowledge (88.3%) and confidence (75.9%) with IFE. Nonetheless, more than half of the participants expressed the willingness to assist in IFE (59.1%). Non-Bahraini healthcare professionals (odds ratio [OR] = 2.901, P < 0.001) had higher knowledge of IFE. Nurses (OR = 1.642, P = 0.047) and participants with longer work experience had higher willingness to assist in IFE. In addition, professionals who were non-Bahraini (OR = 3.249, P < 0.001), working in secondary care (OR = 1.619, 95% confidence interval P = 0.021), had had training on IFE (OR = 2.247, P = 0.004), and had encountered IFE before (OR = 1.974, P = 0.006) had greater self-confidence levels. Considering the low levels of knowledge and confidence healthcare professionals in Bahrain had with regard to IFE, targeted training initiatives and educational programs are necessary to improve HCW's confidence and preparedness to deal with such emergencies.

Psychological and Physiological Changes in Firefighters Based on Roadside Flowerscape Models and Plant Colors

Background and objective: This study was conducted to examine the psychological and physiological changes in firefighters according to roadside flowerscape (RFS) models and color stimulation.Methods: EEG and ECG measurement was taken and a survey was conducted on a total of 30 firefighters with a mean age of 35.3 ± 9.4 years in Jeonju.Results: For the violet RFS among the four colors (white, yellow, pink, and violet) of the RFSs, RST(radio of SMR to theta), RSMT(ratio to mid beta to theta), RMT(ratio of mid beta to theta), RMB(relative mid beta power spectrum), and ASEF(spectral edge frequency of 50% alpha spectrum band), which is a comfort indicator, were the highest in all lobes, including the prefrontal lobe, a finding which was statistically significant. The radio of alpha to high beta (RAHB), an indicator of calm and relaxation, was the highest for the white flowerscape. As for the level of gardening activity, the higher the age, the higher the average monthly income and rank, and the longer work experience, the higher the average value. The stress level of firefighters was 46.7%, indicating the need for expert help. Among the four colors (white, yellow, pink, and violet) of the RFSs, the preference for the yellow flowerscape was the highest, and "pleasant" was also the most common emotion, a finding which was statistically significant. As for the correlation between loyalty to the RFSs and key variables, a positive correlation was found between loyalty and gardening activity level, while a negative correlation was found between loyalty and job burnout. By examining the effects of key variables, as well as demographic variables such as gardening activity level and job burnout on respondents' loyalty, a sense of calm was found to be the most influential variable.Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is expected that supporting the development of RFS models and improving a sense of calm and the level of gardening activities, which affect the loyalty of firefighters, who are high-risk workers, will reduce high stress levels and job burnout, and increase interest in plants and psychological and physiological relaxation effects.

정신건강 전문가의 감정노동이 소진에 미치는 영향

In South Korea, recent incidents, such as the murder of a mentally ill person and a rampage involving a weapon, have highlighted the national responsibility for mental health service. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between levels of emotional labor caused by exposure to emotional labor by mental health professionals in the process of performing their work, and to verify the moderating effect of resilience in this relationship. The main findings were as follows. First, It was confirmed that higher levels of emotional labor, longer work experience, higher academic backgrounds among mental health professionals, and lower salaries are associated with increased burnout. Second, resilience moderates on the level of emotional labor and exhaustion. In groups with high resilience, there is little difference in burnout levels depending on the level of emotional labor. However, among individuals with low resilience, burnout tends to increase as the level of emotional labor increases. Based on the results of these studies, practical measures were presented to prevent emotional labor and burnout in mental health professionals.

Blood Transfusion Procedure: Assessment of Serbian Intensive Care Nurses' Knowledge.

Many patients require administering one or more blood components during hospitalisation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Therefore, nurses' knowledge of who is responsible for immediately administering blood transfusions, monitoring patients, and identifying and managing transfusion reactions is crucial. This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study aimed to assess the knowledge of ICU nurses in tertiary healthcare institutions about blood transfusion procedures. The questionnaire about the transfusion procedure was designed and reviewed by experts. The questionnaire consisted of 29 items divided into three domains. The scores on the knowledge test ranged from 10 to 27. Generally, 57.7% of nurses had moderate, 23.4% low, and 18.9% high levels of knowledge about the transfusion procedure. Most nurses answered correctly about refreezing fresh frozen plasma, verifying the transfusion product, and identifying the patient. Of the nurses, 91.0% would recognise mild allergic reactions, and 98.2% knew about the supervision of sedated patients. Nurses showed poor knowledge of the length of usage of the same transfusion system for red blood cells, labelling, and transfusion administration in febrile patients. Nurses with higher education and longer working experience had significantly better outcomes (p = 0.000) on the knowledge test. Continuous education of ICU nurses on safe transfusion usage is recommended.

An Examination of the Association of Work Experience to Ethical Attitudes and Machiavellianism of Accounting Students

Business ethics can have high implications for the accounting profession, stakeholders who rely on financial reporting, and entities concerned about business reputation. Professional ethics are required of members by all major accounting organizations. Accounting students learn about business ethics in accounting through their accounting studies, yet unethical practices have persisted in recent decades, often by leaders and managers with accounting foundations. This study examined work experience and other factors that could affect attitudes toward business ethics of accounting students. A survey questionnaire was used to assess ethical attitudes using various statistical techniques to explore significant differences among accounting students who were grouped according to their length of work experience and other factors. Students with a few years of work experience were found to have a more relaxed attitude towards business ethics than students with longer work experience.

Nurses’ knowledge of and attitude toward postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and the associated factors

BackgroundPostoperative pain control is pivotal for surgical care; it facilitates patient recovery. Although patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been available for decades, inadequate pain control remains. Nurses’ knowledge of and attitude toward PCA may influence the efficacy on clinic application.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate nurses’ knowledge of and attitude toward postoperative PCA and investigate the associated factors.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study. We enrolled registered nurses from a 2200-bed medical center in northern Taiwan within one year. The participants completed an anonymous self-reported PCA knowledge inventory and PCA attitude inventory. Data were analyzed descriptively and associated were tested using logistic regression.ResultsWith 303 participants enrolled, we discovered that nurses had limited knowledge of and a negative attitude toward PCA. Under half of the participants know how to set up a bolus dose and lockout intervals. The majority held misconceptions regarding side effect management for opioids. The minority agree to increase the dose when a patient experienced persistent pain or suggested the use of PCA. Surprisingly, participants with a bachelor’s or master’s degree had lower knowledge scores than those with a junior college degree. Those with 6–10 years of work experience also are lower than those with under 5 years of experience. However, the participants with experience of using PCA for patient care had higher knowledge scores and a more positive attitude.ConclusionsAlthough postoperative PCA has been available for decades and education programs are routinely provided, nurses had limited knowledge of and a negative attitude toward PCA. A higher education level and longer work experience were not associated with more knowledge. The current education programs on PCA should be revised to enhance their efficacy in delivering up-to-date knowledge and situation training which may convey supportive attitude toward clinical application of PCA.

Attitudes of Internal Medicine Nurses, Surgical Nurses and Midwives towards Reporting of Clinical Adverse Events.

Understanding the attitudes of medical staff contributes to shaping a culture of safety in health care. The aim of this study was the measurement of attitudes of nurses and midwives towards reporting clinical adverse events. Various research tools were used, including the Reporting of Clinical Adverse Events Scale (RoCAES; Polish: P-RoCAES), the Justice Sensitivity Inventory, the Feelings in Moral Situations Scale, the Perceived Stress at Work Scale and the Author's Survey Questionnaire. The cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2022 to April 2023. The study used assessment-based sampling. The study included 745 midwives and nurses working in internal medicine-surgical wards in nine hospitals in a large provincial city in Poland. One-way analysis of variance ANOVA, post hoc test (Fisher's NIR), and r-Spearman correlation test were used. The level of significance (p) did not exceed 0.05. Respondents did not differ in terms of sensitivity to justice, moral feelings, and perceived stress at work, all of which variables were at moderate levels. Respondents' attitudes towards reporting clinical adverse events in the P-RoCAES were positive (surgical nurses 71.10; internal medicine nurses 72.04; midwives 71.26; F(2.741) = 1.14, p = 0.319), especially those with a master's degree, longer work experience and older age. Respondents with a master's degree were most likely to perceive a benefit from reporting adverse events (P-RoCAES subscale) (F(2.737) = 8.45, p = 0.001). The longer employment tenure (F(3.716) = 4.63, p = 0.003) and having a master's degree (F(2.737) = 3.10, p = 0.045) were associated with a higher feeling of guilt among the respondents (P-RoCAES subscale). The longer the participants worked, the more positive their attitude became towards the importance of transparency in procedures (F(2.741) = 3.56, p = 0.029), but the more negative their attitude was towards the benefits of reporting adverse events (P-RoCAES subscale) (r(686) = -0.08, p = 0.037). Individual attitudes of nurses and midwives as well as their age, length of service or education can influence the formation of a culture of safety in health care (including the reporting of clinical adverse events). Attitudes can motivate corrective action, can be reinforced and shaped by educational programs, good quality management and monitoring system solutions.

Association of sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sleep quality factors with accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times among Emirati working women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Although a significant lack of physical activity has been linked to an increase in obesity among Emirati women, the factors associated with accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times in Emirati women remain unclear. To explore the association of accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sleep quality factors among Emirati working women. A cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 163 healthy working Emirati women aged 18-45 years was used. Sedentary and physical activity times were measured using the Fibion accelerometers worn on the thighs for 4-7 days. General demographic information, anthropometric measurements, and self-reported sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index score) were collected. Only participants who had valid data (i.e. wear time of ⩾600 min (10 h) per day for a minimum of 4-7 days) were evaluated. All values were normalized to a 16-h day to mitigate differences in wear time among the participants. Overall, 110 Emirati women were included. The mean sitting time per 16-h day was 11.6 ± 1.1 h; mean moderate activity time per day, 40.88 ± 17.99 min; and mean vigorous activity time per day, 2.41 ± 1.21 min. Longer sitting time was associated with high body fat, secondary education, and divorce. Sitting time was reduced in those with good sleep quality. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time was increased in women with postgraduate education and was decreased in women with a longer work experience and with comorbidities. The total activity time increased with increasing age and good sleep quality, whereas it decreased with increasing body fat, presence of at least one comorbidity, secondary education, and divorce. Certain demographic, anthropometric, and sleep quality factors were associated with accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times among Emirati working women. Future longitudinal studies should consider these factors when investigating predictors of physical activity levels in this population.

Longer work experience and age associated with safety attitudes in operating room nurses: an online cross-sectional study

BackgroundPatient safety is fundamental when providing care in the operating room. Still, adverse events and errors are a challenge for patient safety worldwide. To avoid preventable patient harm, organisations need...

Assessment of the impact of working under COVID-19 conditions on the psychophysical state of nurses

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic caused many unfavorable changes in nurses’ daily work, which affected their health and well-being. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of working under COVID-19 conditions on the psychophysical condition of nurses. Materials and Methods: The study included a group of 100 nurses from the Łodź Voivodeship working under COVID-19 conditions. A survey questionnaire consisting of questions on health status, the occurrence and severity of symptoms resulting from work in covid conditions was used. Results: Statistically significant (p&lt;0.001) increases in physical ailments were found in nurses after a change in working conditions. The largest effect was observed for dyspnoea, headache and lumbar pain. The severity of physical ailments was mainly affected by the age of the respondents and the presence of chronic diseases. There was also a statistically significant (p&lt;0.001) deterioration in the mental state of the respondents, primarily in terms of feelings of mental fatigue, mood decrease and feelings of fear for the health of relatives. An increase in fear for one’s own health was also observed, particularly in nurses with older age, higher BMI, longer work experience and chronic diseases. Conclusions: The change of working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the psychophysical health of nurses. The respondents showed an increase of the symptoms of chronic diseases, headaches and back pain. Working in difficult conditions and chronic stress resulted in a depressed mood and fear for one’s own life and that of relatives. Thermal treatment may be recommended to improve the psychophysical condition of nurses.

Assessment of parameters reflecting the reactivity of the autonomic nervous system of Polish firefighters on the basis of a test in a smoke chamber.

Measurement and analysis of heart rate variability in a population of professional firefighters based on heart rate (RR) recording. Assessment based on a smoke chamber test in correlation with age, length of service, body mass index. The smoke chamber test for the officers of the State Fire Service (SFS) is aimed at improving the skills and techniques of working in special clothing and in a respiratory protection set (RPS) under high psychophysical burden. The study was divided into 3 stages: 1. measurement of parameters at rest - sitting position for 5 min, 2. measurement of parameters during the firefighter's activity, effort related to the training path and the test in the smoke chamber, indefinite time (different for each firefighter), 3. measurement of parameters at rest after exercise - sitting position for 5 min. Each firefighter included in the study had fitted onto his chest a Polar H10 band with a sensor (size XXL) that measures parameters HR, HRV (sensor connected via Bluetooth to an application on the phone of a person controlling the test). The study involved 96 firefighters aged 19-45 (Mean 27.9; SD 7.4), with 1-19 years of service (Mean 5.2; SD 4.6). The study included 75 firefighters who completed the entire activity and their results were recorded completely in a way that allowed for analysis and interpretation. Results of 17 firefighters were selected (parameters describing HRV changes was carried out, which are important from the authors' experience: RMSSD, HF ms2, DFA α1). The presence of excessive body weight did not affect HR parameters, which may be related to the limited possibilities of using the BMI index among people with high muscle mass. Longer work experience has a health-promoting effect on heart rate values through increased adaptation of the circulatory system to increased effort and stress. HRV parameter and ANS activity have a wide range of clinical applications, in addition to monitoring health status in the course of diseases, ANS activity can be analyzed in correlation with occupational risk factors.

"Politicization of Public Administration in Romania and its Consequences for Governance in Turbulent Times"

The article aims to analyze the level of politicization of civil service in Romania, its goals, and consequences. We adopted a rather narrow perspective on politicization and we concentrated mainly on analyzing the recruitment, promotion, and dismissal of civil servants based on political criteria. The research findings were used to discuss the consequences of politicization on the governance of public institutions during turbulent times. In this regard, we conducted an email-based survey of the civil servants. The majority of the sample was composed of graduates of public administration programs at four major universities in Romania, who work in public institutions. We collected the data between May and November 2023 and we obtained 211 valid questionnaires. We found that appointments based on political criteria lower the work motivation of public employees, and increase the level of incompetence and instability of public institutions. The most affected are public employees in management positions, those who have longer work experience in the public sector, and those who work in public institutions that are part of central administration. Therefore, frequent changes based on political criteria lower the capacity of public institutions to respond to disruptive events by generating a loss of expertise, instability, and discontinuity in policy implementation. However, turbulent times require flexibility and adaptation to unexpected and unpredictable events, and political appointees might be more responsive and cooperative.

Risk factors for neck pain-induced disability among primary healthcare workers: A pilot study.

Neck pain (NP) is associated with high disability rates among healthcare workers. To determine the potential risk factors associated with disability due to NP among healthcare staff working in primary care settings. This 30-day prospective cross-sectional study involved a survey of 63 healthcare personnel (55 women and 8 men aged 45.30±12.34 years) of two primary healthcare centers in Serbia, who completed a general questionnaire developed for this purpose along with the Neck Disability Index (NDI), whereby the potential predictors of NP-related disability were assessed using the statistical package SPSS ver. 24. Female healthcare workers achieved a higher score on the NDI scale (Me = 8.00, p < 0.05), as did older respondents (r = 0.260, p < 0.05), those with longer work experience (r = 0.323, p < 0.05), and those that wear prescription glasses (Me = 9.00, p < 0.01). Higher NDI scores were also achieved by respondents that suffered from neck pain at the time of the study (Me = 12.50, p < 0.001), especially if they relied on pain medication (Me = 13.00, p < 0.05), and topical analgesic creams (Me = 12.50, p < 0.05) for treating neck pain. Female sex, older age, greater work experience, current neck pain, use of pain-relieving medications and creams, and need for prescription glasses to correct vision increase the risk of disability due to pain in the cervical spine among healthcare workers.

Nurse educator competence in four European countries-A comparative cross-sectional study.

The aim of this article is to describe and compare the nurse educator competences in four European countries using three different evaluators: nurse educators (n = 329), heads of a nursing subject (n = 60) and student nurses (n = 1058). The study was conducted as a comparative cross-sectional survey in Finland, Malta, Slovakia and Spain between May 2021 and February 2022. The data were collected with an online survey. The instrument used was a 20-item Tool for Evaluation of Requirements of Nurse Teachers, utilizing a 5-point Likert-type scale. The data were analysed statistically and reported according to STROBE guidelines. Nurse educators' competence evaluated positively in all the groups of evaluators, with a mean of >3.5. The self-evaluation of nurse educators' competence was higher than the other evaluators' evaluations. Having a degree in nursing, having completed some pedagogical studies and longer work experience as a nurse educator had a positive association with higher self-evaluated competence among nurse educators. Nurse educator competence is at a good level in the selected European countries, but further studies are required to find the reasons behind the differences in evaluations. Each participating educational institution named a contact person who distributed the surveys to the participants and returned the study's metadata to the researchers.