Health Professionals Research Articles

Facial aesthetics is shaped not only by genetic predispositions but also by the cultural norms and values

The positioning of teeth is of significant importance, both in terms of function and aesthetics. Aesthetics is a subjective matter, and there is often a discrepancy between the perceptions of patients and those of medical professionals. The act of wearing a mask has been demonstrated to impair the ability to evaluate facial attractiveness, thereby reaffirming the visual importance of the oral cavity in the context of facial aesthetics. The notion that a face perceived as beautiful is inherently exceptional is a fallacy. An average face is defined as one that exhibits characteristics that are common to the group. However, cultural mutations occur at a faster rate than genetic mutations. With regard to changes in facial aesthetics, cultural differences have a more immediate effect than genetic mutations. The advent of the internet meme may herald the advent of an era in which the average face that defines a beautiful face is determined by the internet.

Multimodal emotion recognition in the metaverse era: New needs and transformation in mental health work

This editorial comments on an article recently published by López del Hoyo et al . The metaverse, hailed as "the successor to the mobile Internet", is undoubtedly one of the most fashionable terms in recent years. Although metaverse development is a complex and multifaceted evolutionary process influenced by many factors, it is almost certain that it will significantly impact our lives, including mental health services. Like any other technological advancements, the metaverse era presents a double-edged sword for mental health work, which must clearly understand the needs and transformations of its target audience. In this editorial, our primary focus is to contemplate potential new needs and transformation in mental health work during the metaverse era from the perspective of multimodal emotion recognition.

Differences in the Usability of Fully Automated External Defibrillators between Medical and Nonmedical Professionals.

Objective Early defibrillation is crucial for improving the survival rates of patients with shockable cardiac arrest (OHCA). Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are essential in basic life support (BLS), yet their usage in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests remains around 10%. There are two types of AEDs: semi-automatic (s-AED) and fully automatic (f-AED), with the latter automatically delivering a shock if indicated. Although f-AEDs were introduced in Japan in 2021, they have not yet been widely adopted. The present study investigated whether or not the ease of use and preferences for these AED types differ between healthcare professionals and laypersons. Methods BLS courses, including training on both AED types, were conducted between 2021 and 2022 at our institution. The participants were divided into medical and non-medical professional groups, and a survey was administered. Results A total of 443 participants were included, with 47 medical professionals and 396 non-medical professionals. Notably, 401 participants were new to f-AED lectures. The medical professional group had more prior experience with AED training courses than non-medical professionals and showed a preference for s-AEDs, whereas the non-medical professional group showed no significant preference. Although a subset of participants expressed hesitation in pressing the shock button on the s-AEDs, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Conclusion This study suggests that preferences for AED types may vary between medical and non-medical professional groups, with some reluctance in using s-AEDs. Although no significant differences in hesitation were found between the groups, f-AEDs may reduce hesitation and potentially improve AED effectiveness during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A longitudinal study of healthcare workers' mental health during Western Australia's unique policy response to COVID-19.

Western Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was swift and effective in implementing public health protections and preventing the spread of the virus for the first 2 years. However, healthcare staff continued to be at increased risk of mental health concerns. To investigate the longitudinal patterns of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression and anxiety among healthcare workers in Western Australia, and the risk and protective factors associated with changes in status during the first wave. Participants comprised 183 healthcare staff working at tertiary hospitals and major clinics across Perth, for whom longitudinal data were available. Questionnaire data were collected before Western Australia's first major COVID-19 community wave in early 2022 and following the first wave in late 2022. Online surveys comprised validated measures assessing psychological symptoms, risk and protective factors, and original measures of workplace factors. Overall rates of PTSS, depression and anxiety remained stable across the two assessment points. However, latent growth models revealed that those with lower PTSS, depression or anxiety symptoms at baseline reported a larger increase in symptoms over time, and those with higher symptoms at baseline had a smaller decline over time, indicating a 'catch-up' effect. Workplace stressors, sleep difficulties and trauma exposure were key risk factors for changes in psychological symptoms from baseline, and workplace and social supports played protective roles. Improvements in systemic workplace factors are needed to support healthcare workers' mental health during periods of acute stress, even in settings with high levels of emergency preparedness.

Psychometrics evaluation of the Persian version of Attitudes toward Patient Safety Questionnaire (APSQ-III) in nursing students

BackgroundThe topic of patient safety and attitudes toward patient safety among health professionals is a main priority of healthcare systems globally. This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of APSQ-III among Iranian nursing students.MethodsThere were 307 undergraduate nursing students who participated in the cross-sectional methodological study, from December 2022 to January 2023. Content validity, Construct validity and reliability of the APSQ-III was evaluated.ResultsIn the exploratory factor analysis, three factors were identified from 11 items, accounting for 58% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis indices confirmed the model fit (χ2(38) = 91.851, p < 0.001, χ2/df = 2.417, CFI = 0.966, PNFI = 0.652, IFI = 0.966, TLI = 0.951 and RMSEA = 0.068). The results of the reliability evaluation indicated that the factors demonstrated a satisfactory level of internal consistency, as evidenced by Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω) values. Additionally, the Composite Reliability (CR) and Maximal Reliability H were both above 0.8, further supporting the reliability of the factors.ConclusionThe results of this study support the valid and reliable APSQ-III with 11 items and three factors. This questionnaire can be used to assess patient safety attitude among nursing students.

The experiences of cardiovascular surgeons and nurses with mutual support through interprofessional collaboration in the intensive care unit.

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need for radical approaches in its Global Patient Safety Action Plan, particularly in terms of interprofessional and multidisciplinary approaches. The plan highlights the importance of providing training on patient safety for all professionals, focusing on team and task-based strategies that include bedside and simulation education. TeamSTEPPS® (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) is an educational programme developed to teach health care professionals on specific tools and strategies to enhance basic teamwork skills. Mutual support, one of the teamwork skills described in TeamSTEPPS®, involves team members assisting one another, providing and receiving feedback on performance, and advocating assertively when patient safety is threatened. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of cardiovascular surgeons and nurses with mutual support through interprofessional collaboration in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Hacettepe University. The study employed a basic qualitative research design. The data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analysed with inductive content analysis in accordance with Elo and Kyngäs. We used the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist to describe and report the components of study design. We interviewed 13 participants: 6 surgeons and 7 nurses. Six themes were identified: mutual support, positiveness of working in a supportive environment, feedback, effective communication, patient safety and conflict resolution. The results of our study revealed that intra/inter-professional collaboration and mutual trust based on the variety of individual and workplace-related factors improved patient safety through individual motivation while monitoring and supporting each other in a positive environment, providing feedback and encouraging effective communication, patient advocacy and conflict resolution. Exploring the experiences, challenges and successes of health care workers in interprofessional collaboration is crucial. Understanding team dynamics, communication barriers and collaboration strategies can help promote more effective teamwork and contribute to the development of plans to improve the quality of patient care.

Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Splash Pads - United States, 1997-2022.

Splash pads are recreational interactive water venues that spray or jet water on users. Splash pads are intended for children aged <5 years and designed so that water typically does not collect in areas accessible to users, thereby minimizing the risk for drowning. Splash pads were first found to be associated with waterborne disease outbreaks in 1997. 1997-2022. Since 1971, waterborne disease outbreaks have been voluntarily reported to CDC by state, local, and territorial health departments using a standard paper form via the Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (WBDOSS). Beginning in 2009, WBDOSS reporting was made available exclusively through the National Outbreak Reporting System, a web-based platform. This report characterizes waterborne disease outbreaks associated with splash pads reported to CDC that occurred during 1997-2022. During 1997-2022, public health officials from 23 states and Puerto Rico reported 60 waterborne disease outbreaks associated with splash pads. These reported outbreaks resulted in 10,611 cases, 152 hospitalizations, 99 emergency department visits, and no reported deaths. The 40 (67%) outbreaks confirmed to be caused, in part, by Cryptosporidium resulted in 9,622 (91%) cases and 123 (81%) hospitalizations. Two outbreaks suspected to be caused by norovirus resulted in 72 (73%) emergency department visits. Waterborne pathogens that cause acute gastrointestinal illness can be transmitted by ingesting water contaminated with feces from infected persons. Chlorine is the primary barrier to pathogen transmission in splash pad water. However, Cryptosporidium is tolerant to chlorine and is the most common cause of reported waterborne disease outbreaks associated with splash pads. Public health officials and the aquatics sector can use the findings in this report to promote the prevention of splash pad-associated outbreaks (e.g., recommended user behaviors) and guide the construction, operation, and management of splash pads. Public health practitioners and the aquatics sector also can collaborate to voluntarily adopt CDC's Model Aquatic Health Code recommendations to prevent waterborne illness associated with splash pads.

Role of turnover, downsizing, overtime and night shifts on workplace violence against healthcare workers: a seven-year ecological study

BackgroundAbout one-third of workers identify organisational factors as contributors to workplace violence (WPV), but the associations between these factors and WPV have primarily been explored retrospectively and with measures of perceived organisational constraints, hence providing limited information for prevention. Therefore, we assessed whether objectively measured ward-level indicators of turnover, downsizing, overtime, and night shifts are associated with the occurrence of WPV and whether these associations vary by ward type.MethodsWe conducted an ecological study at a university hospital in northern Italy from 2016 to 2022, using wards as statistical unit (average: 230 wards per year). Active surveillance of WPV was based on an in-hospital incident reporting procedure, updated in November 2021 based on Health Regional Administration guidelines; 2021 was therefore excluded as a transition year. Individual-level administrative data were used to compute ward-level yearly indicators of turnover, downsizing, overtime and night shifts per active worker. Using generalised linear models, we estimated rate ratios (RRs) for yearly WPV counts per 1 SD increase in the indicators, controlling for study period, ward type (emergency department [ED], psychiatric ward, other) and ward sociodemographic composition.ResultsA total of 337 WPV episodes occurred in the 1381 ward-year observations. The WPV rates per 100 active workers per year increased from 1.40 (95%CI: 1.23–1.60) during 2016–2020 to 3.48 (2.90–4.17) in 2022. Higher turnover (RR, 95%CI: 1.47, 1.23–1.75) and downsizing (1.12, 1.00-1.24) were associated with a greater occurrence of WPV across all wards; these associations were consistent across the study periods. In wards with night shift scheduling, turnover (1.64, 1.40–1.92), downsizing (1.21, 1.04–1.40) and the mean number of night shifts (2.50, 1.37–4.56) were associated with WPV. The association between night shifts and WPV was greater in psychiatric wards (RR = 8.73; interaction p-value = 0.02), whereas the role of downsizing was greater in EDs (RR = 1.42, interaction p-value = 0.09) and the role of turnover was greater in the other wards (RR = 1.34, interaction p-value = 0.16).ConclusionWork organisational factors are associated with the occurrence of WPV episodes against healthcare workers. Ward type-tailored priorities should be given to minimising turnover and downsizing and promoting a fairer allocation of night shifts to decrease WPV occurrence.

A Review of Interventional and Preventative Studies for Moral Distress and Moral Injury Among Healthcare Workers

A Review of Interventional and Preventative Studies for Moral Distress and Moral Injury Among Healthcare Workers

Mental health variables affecting Quality of Life (QOL) among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia

Mental health variables affecting Quality of Life (QOL) among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia

Bacterial and fungal contamination of healthcare workers’ mobile phones in a provincial hospital in Centre-West of Morocco

ABSTRACT The widespread use of mobile phones by healthcare workers makes them a breeding ground for microorganisms. The aim of this study is to investigate microbial contamination on cell phones of healthcare workers and evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility. The study was conducted at Provincial Hospital Hassan II in Settat. Swabs were collected from 72 mobile phones of healthcare workers, samples were rolled over the phone screens and cultured in suitable media. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the disk diffusion method on Mueller–Hinton agar. Of the 72 mobile phones, 68 showed microbial growth. Among these 55 were Gram-positive bacteria and 13 were Gram-negative bacilli. One Staphylococcus aureus strain was Methicillin-Resistant, and one Klebsiella pneumoniae strain produced Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase. Four samples were contaminated with Candida albicans, Imipenem and Amikacin were active against all Gram-negative bacilli. Only 21 out of 72 phones were occasionally cleaned. Regular decontamination and emphasis on hygiene measures are recommended.

Prevalence of insomnia and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Mattu City, Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based study

BackgroundInsomnia during the postpartum period has short-term and long-lasting effects on the health of the mother and her baby. Hence, this study assessed the prevalence of insomnia and its associated factors among postpartum mothers in Mattu City.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 451 postpartum mothers in Mattu City from May 1 to June 1, 2022. A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a face-to-face interview. Athens’s Insomnia Scale (AIS) standardized tool was used to measure insomnia. EpiData version 4.4.2.1 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Factors significantly affecting insomnia were identified using a binary logistic regression analysis at a p-value of less than 0.05.ResultsThe prevalence of insomnia was found to be 29.3% (95% CI: 25, 33.5). Parity (AOR = 3.36; 95% CI: 1.88, 5.60), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 6.15; 95% CI: 5.23, 11.55), lack of postnatal follow-up (AOR = 3.82; 95% CI: 1.85, 7.90), partner dissatisfaction with the gender of the current baby (AOR = 5.73; 95% CI: 3.23, 10.2), partner daily alcohol use (AOR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.66), and postpartum intimate partner violence (AOR = 2.60; 95% 4.67) were found to be factors significantly associated with insomnia.ConclusionsGenerally, three in ten mothers were suffering from insomnia in the study area. Therefore, health professionals and health extension workers need to endorse and enhance the counseling of the postpartum mother and her partner jointly. In addition, the media and other concerned bodies should focus on the identified factors to overcome them.

Living with Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Qualitative Study.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, autoinflammatory disorder characterized by rapidly progressive painful ulcers that are challenging to diagnose and treat. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of patients living with pyoderma gangrenosum. Using an inductive qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were completed with a purposive sample of 21 patients with pyoderma gangrenosum recruited from a public dermatology outpatient clinic in Melbourne, Australia. A reflexive thematic analysis was performed, yielding 5 themes: pain, physical challenges, social functioning and relationships, mental health, and treatment. The impact of pyoderma gangrenosum on quality of life was multifaceted and varied throughout disease progression, remission, and recurrence. Experiences of delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis were common, causing distress and resulting in unnecessary treatments including surgery. Severe pain disrupted sleep and limited daily activities, eroding patients' sense of self-control and perpetuating depressed mood and anxiety. Management should include early specialist referral, providing information sheets for managing pain and wound care, and communicating disease expectations. In conclusion, this study has deepened understanding and given personal perspectives on what it is like to live with a condition poorly understood by many health professionals. Increased efforts should be made to increase clinician awareness regarding pyoderma gangrenosum to facilitate early diagnosis.

The impact of game play on dementia knowledge: A student evaluation of the Dementia Inequalities Game.

Background: People with dementia and carers can face many barriers, or inequalities, in accessing a diagnosis or care. These barriers are unjust and can be addressed by the right interventions, to ensure that everyone receives equitable access to diagnosis and care. A lack of knowledge about dementia in the health and social care workforce is a recognised barrier. The Dementia Inequalities Game was co-produced with people with personal, professional, and voluntary sector experiences of dementia, and offers an educational tool to educate people about dementia and associated inequalities and overcome this knowledge gap in the current and future (in training) workforce. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of playing the co-produced Dementia Inequalities Game on knowledge about dementia and associated inequalities in health care, allied health professional, nursing and psychology students.Methods: We conducted 11 game play workshops as part of regular teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, orthoptics, and radiography at one University in the North of England. Students did not have to partake in the workshops. Participating students completed a brief before and after knowledge questionnaire about dementia and inequalities. Paired samples t-tests were used to compare ratings of knowledge of dementia and associated inequalities before and after game play.Findings: Three-hundred-and-eighteen students took part in the workshops, with 312 fully completed questionnaires. The largest cohort of students (49%) were studying for a degree in nursing. Playing the game significantly increased knowledge about dementia (p < .001) and dementia inequalities (p < .001).Implications: Playing the Dementia Inequalities Game is an effective tool to improve knowledge about dementia and associated inequalities in health care and psychology students. Using the game as an educational and sociable intervention in health and social care professionals is a next avenue to test.

The experiences of trans (binary and non-binary) people accessing emergency department care in Australia: A grounded theory study

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the experiences of trans (binary and non-binary) people accessing emergency department care in Australia. MethodThis qualitative descriptive study utilised a grounded theory approach. Seven people who identified as trans were recruited through social media and trans support groups. Individuals participated in an in-depth narrative interview. Interview transcriptions were analysed using a constant comparative approach. ResultsFollowing thematic analysis, four key themes were identified: 1. identity; 2. clinical care; 3. communication; and 4. perceptions of health professional education, beliefs and experience in caring for trans people. ConclusionThis study is the first in Australia to explore the experiences of trans people utilising emergency department services. The findings of this study are similar to international data whereby the delivery of gender affirming care in emergency departments is inconsistent, health professionals are perceived as poorly educated and gender identity is inadequately recognised.

Joy and humanity in communication: A design-based research approach to developing and understanding the impact of a novel education programme on hospital staff, co-designed and facilitated by clown doctors.

Clown doctors have a unique skill set and role, particularly in paediatric settings. Yet, there is limited research on whether clown doctors themselves could play a role in sharing these skills with health professionals. Acknowledging uncertainty in what our intervention should be, we used a design-based research (DBR) approach with the aim of (i) shaping the educational design and content of communication skills-based workshops for clinicians and (ii) understanding the educational impact on participants. Data were collected from initial key stakeholder consultations, then through the delivery of evolving iterations of the workshop in the form of post-workshop group discussions, follow-up short participant surveys and observations of the workshops themselves. Reflexive thematic analysis of group discussions and short survey responses was undertaken to understand the impact. Forty participants participated in five workshops, including staff from medical, nursing, allied health and administrative backgrounds. Five educational principles emerged: self-awareness, curiosity, play, spirit and self-reflection. Four central themes regarding educational impact were generated: creating joy and breaking barriers; the heart, not the science of communication; workplace tensions challenge change; and communication training but not as we know it. A novel education programme facilitated by clown doctors at a hospital offered unique communication skill learnings, while bringing joy and connection to the workplace through education. The DBR approach enabled this programme to be shaped, implemented, and evaluated, with the results attesting to the value of more novel approaches to communication training. The challenge remains to embed, sustain, and potentially scale the programme to other settings.

Quality of Information Provided by Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Surrounding the Reconstructive Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer: A Comparative Analysis Between ChatGPT4 and Claude2.

Artificial Intelligences (AIs) are changing the way information is accessed and consumed globally. This study aims to evaluate the information quality provided by AIs ChatGPT4 and Claude2 concerning reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer. Thirty questions on reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer were directed to both AIs and 16 head and neck surgeons assessed the responses using the QAMAI questionnaire. A 5-point Likert scale was used to assess accuracy, clarity, relevance, completeness, sources, and usefulness. Questions were categorised into those suitable for patients (group 1) and those for surgeons (group 2). AI responses were compared using t-Student and McNemar tests. Surgeon score agreement was measured with intraclass correlation coefficient, and readability was assessed with Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). ChatGPT4 and Claude2 had similar overall mean scores of accuracy, clarity, relevance, completeness and usefulness, while Claude2 outperformed ChatGPT4 in sources (110.0 vs. 92.1, p < 0.001). Considering the group 2, Claude2 showed significantly lower accuracy and completeness scores compared to ChatGPT4 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively). Regarding readability, ChatGPT4 presented lower complexity than Claude2 (FKGL mean score 4.57 vs. 6.05, p < 0.001) requiring an easy-fairly easy English in 93% of cases. Our findings indicate that neither chatbot exhibits a decisive superiority in all aspects. Nonetheless, ChatGPT4 demonstrates greater accuracy and comprehensiveness for specific types of questions and the simpler language used may aid patient inquiries. However, many evaluators disagree with chatbot information, highlighting that AI systems cannot serve as a substitute for advice from medical professionals.

Youth involvement in policy processes in public health, education, and social work-A scoping review.

Youth involvement in policy formulation may enhance its relevance, strengthen democratic practices, and contribute to youth development. This scoping review explored the nature, extent, and impact of adolescent involvement in policy processes aimed at improving adolescent health and well-being in the public health, education, and social work sectors. Studies of adolescent involvement in policy processes focusing on health, and well-being, including obesity prevention were eligible. We searched seven databases, reference lists of included studies, and contacted key organizations. Standard scoping review methods were applied. The results were synthesized narratively, using descriptive statistics and visuals. We included 33 mostly qualitative studies, mainly from the public health sector in the USA and Europe, focusing on diet, physical activity, health & well-being, or sexual and reproductive health. Adolescents were consulted or collaborated with, mostly in identifying problems or policy solutions and less often in agenda-setting, decision-making, and evaluation. Various facilitators were used to improve participation (e.g. training, adult facilitators, monetary compensation). Data on adolescents' experiences of involvement and the impact on policies were limited. Due to a paucity of impact studies, we could not determine whether adolescent involvement increased the relevance of policies or improved adolescent development. The extent to which adolescents were meaningfully involved, and had a material effect on decision-making, was largely unclear. Improved documentation, monitoring, and evaluation of youth involvement in policy using quantitative methods and standardized frameworks, can improve the evidence-based, involvement practices, and decrease inequities.

A Glimmer of Hope: The Impact of the Recovery College Bern on Personal Recovery, Well-Being and Self-Stigmatisation-A Mixed Methods Study.

Recovery Colleges are mental health education centres co-produced by experts with lived experience with mental health problems and mental health professionals. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a Recovery College in Switzerland on its students' mental health measured through personal recovery, well-being and self-stigmatisation in a mixed methods approach following the MMARS guideline. Three standardised questionnaires 'Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery', 'WHO-5 Well-Being Index' and 'Self-Stigma of Mental Illness Scale Short Form' were completed by 92 participants as part of a pre-post-evaluation while two focus groups (n = 10) provided further explanations regarding impacts on the three topics. Statistical analyses include paired sample t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank tests for pre-post-test comparisons as well as Cohen's d to determine effect sizes. For all three questionnaires, significant improvement was shown in the desired direction with low to medium effect sizes. A higher number of courses attended did not result in higher scores in the outcome measurements. The qualitative analysis confirmed these results by providing insights of specific aspects of these positive impacts. These include increased social inclusion, improvement in attitudes towards one's life and identity, increased engagement in hobbies and healthy behaviours, positive impacts on well-being and decreased self-stigmatisation. The findings indicate that Recovery Colleges should be made available continuously and further developed also in other regions of Switzerland. Similar projects require continuous evaluation in early development to ensure effectiveness and improve quality.

AI depictions of psychiatric diagnoses: a preliminary study of generative image outputs in Midjourney V.6 and DALL-E 3

ObjectiveThis paper investigates how state-of-the-art generative artificial intelligence (AI) image models represent common psychiatric diagnoses. We offer key lessons derived from these representations to inform clinicians, researchers, generative AI companies,...