Occupational Groups Research Articles

Risk and protection factors of mental stress among medical staff in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic placed an extraordinary burden on health care workers (HCW), who are reported to suffer from great mental stress. The current study investigates the mental health of HCW in the later phases of the pandemic. HCW completed the following questionnaires online (06/2021-02/2022, N=159): demographics (age, gender, profession, ward), Impact of Event Scale (IES-R, posttraumatic stress), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S, state anxiety), stress-coping questionnaire (SVF-78), and bespoke corona-specific stress and protective-factor questions (5 items each). We used factor analysis to test scale properties and regression-type methods (t-tests, ANOVA, multiple regression) for hypothesis tests and effect-size estimation. Mental stress in HCW is influenced by similar factors as described for earlier phases. However, differences to earlier phases were found in ward affiliation which is no longer a variable of concern for explaining differences in mental health of HCW. Further, even if nurses are the occupational group with the highest mental stress as in prior research, detailed analysis shows that medical specialists with close proximity to patients with a high-level of responsibility are the most burdened sub-group. Unlike nurses, they suffer from high levels of anxiety in addition to high levels of post-traumatic and COVID-specific stress. Analyses showed further that COVID-specific stress is the strongest predictor of mental stress, wherein COVID-specific stress factors remain the same as reported in literature on the early pandemic phases. HCW showed to use still more positive than negative coping strategies. Negative strategies increased as expected mental stress, whereas positive strategies alleviated only anxiety. Additionally, we found that doctors benefited from many protective factors while nurses had access to fewer protective factors like earlier waves. Data show that HCW still suffer from mental stress in the third year of the pandemic. HCW of all hospital wards may be affected by mental stress and need attention and protective measures. Medical specialists are the most burdened subgroup. Detailed analyses show that properties other than occupation, gender, or ward affiliation are more appropriate to evaluate mental stress of HCW. The findings have implications for developing specialized protection strategies for the post-pandemic phase and future pandemics.

Water, soap, and hand-disinfectant exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-reported hand eczema in frontline workers: A cross-sectional study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased hand hygiene practices were implemented. Impaired skin health on the hands among healthcare workers has been reported previously. Knowledge of how worker in other occupations have been affected is scarce. To investigate self-reported hand water-, and soap exposure and use of hand disinfectants, and hand eczema (HE) in frontline workers outside the hospital setting and in IT personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was sent out between 1 March and 30 April in 2021, to 6060 randomly selected individuals representing six occupational groups. A significant increase in water exposure and hand disinfectant use was shown: Relative position (RP) 19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.21 and RP = 0.38: 95% CI 0.36-0.41, respectively. Newly debuted HE was reported by 7.4% of the population, more frequently among frontline workers (8.6%) compared to IT personnel (4.9%). Water and soap exposure and use of hand disinfectants increased during COVID-19 pandemic, which may increase the risk of hand eczema. This highlights the importance of communication and implementation of preventive measures to protect the skin barrier also in occupations other than healthcare workers.

A Qualitative Study Exploring Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Firefighters.

Firefighters are at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), yet rates of CRC screening are low among this occupational group. This study examines perceived risks, barriers, and facilitators to CRC screening. Three semistructured focus group discussions were conducted by investigators in Tucson, AZ. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes in the data. Three groups of firefighters (8 male (57%); 6 female (43%) mean age 50.4 ( SD = 12.2) years) voluntarily participated in the CRC discussions. Four major themes were examined: (1) perceptions of risk for CRC, (2) barriers to cancer screening, (3) facilitators to getting cancer screening, and (4) misinformation about CRC and screening. Findings indicate unique perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs among firefighters. Results from this study will inform the adaptation of a tailored CRC screening intervention for firefighters.

Community Preparadness For Earthquake Natural Disasters on Empirical Study

Background: Indonesia is in a region prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes. Earthquakes often result in loss of life and property damage. One of the main factors contributing to a high casualty rate is the lack of knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward disasters and insufficient preparedness to anticipate such events. Method: A quantitative correlation study used a cross-sectional approach. The sample was selected using stratified random sampling, resulting in 16 samples from each educational level (elementary, junior high, high school, and university), totaling 64 respondents. Data analysis was conducted using the Chi-Square test. Results: The characteristics of the respondents of the gender, the most common are men 56.3%, the most common age group is in the 36-45 years old range 45.3%, then in the occupational group the most common are housewives with 26.6%. The study found that the majority of the community had sufficient knowledge (p-value 0.001), good attitudes (p-value 0.029), and sufficient behavior (p-value 0.001) towards earthquake preparedness. This indicates a significant relationship between the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior with preparedness for earthquake natural disasters. Conclusion: Knowledge level, attitude, and behavior influence community preparedness for natural disasters, including earthquakes.

Occupational stress and stress management among female and male trainees

The transition from school to professional life is asignificant event for adolescents and young adults. It is not uncommon for fears or feelings of being overwhelmed to arise during this transitional period. Against this backdrop, the article examines the subjective stress experiences of trainees, with special consideration given to gender and various occupational settings. From seven Bavarian vocational schools, 1209 students were surveyed. Stress experiences, coping strategies, psychological and physical complaints, as well as occupational burdens were assessed. Relationships between demographic characteristics, professional settings, and stress experiences were investigated through bivariate and multivariate analyses. Female students report higher levels of stress and are more likely to use emotion-regulating stress coping strategies. Men more frequently attempt to compensate for stress through alcohol and drugs. Differences in stress burden between occupational groups are only evident in bivariate analysis. In multivariate analyses, the gender effect remains highly significant. Negative occupational demands and maladaptive coping strategies significantly promote the experience of stress. The results suggest that asignificant proportion of respondents perceive the training conditions as burdensome, are exposed to health risks, and respond inadequately to stress. The establishment of additional prevention programs in both the training company and in vocational school would be desirable.

Occupational hazard in urolithiasis patients in Qatar: a single-center cross-sectional study.

Urolithiasis is one of the most prevalent urological diseases and is associated with a substantial economic burden. Its prevalence varies according to geographical location. Qatar is a Middle Eastern country located in the Afro-Asian Stone Belt. It has a dry and hot climate, which may predispose individuals working in these environments to form kidney stones (KSs). A population sample of 4204 patients was categorized into five occupational classes. The frequencies and correlations of these occupations with KS formation were calculated. Among the total cases, 2000 presented with KSs, with the majority being of Asian descent (49%), followed by individuals of Middle Eastern descent (35.1%). Technicians accounted for 35.15% of KS cases followed by clerks (29.2%) and executives (14.6%). Among KS cases, 44% had a single stone, 30% had multiple stones, and 26% had two stones. In comparing both KS and non-KS groups, age, gender, occupation, and race were significantly associated with KS formation (p-value < 0.05), while BMI did not show any significant correlation (p-value > 0.05). Asian males aged 31-40, working as technicians, were significantly more prone to urolithiasis. In comparing age, BMI, and gender with stone characteristics, only age was found significantly associated with stone size (p-value < 0.05). Occupation showed an impact on all studied stone characteristics. Clerks and technicians presented more frequently with stones within the 11-15 mm range, while executives more frequently presented with smaller stones (p-value < 0.001). Stone density was more frequently < 500 HU in workers, technicians and housewives and > 500 HU in executives and clerks (p-value < 0.001). Our findings revealed an elevated risk of urolithiasis among certain occupational groups, particularly technicians, who frequently work outdoors in high-temperature environments. Alternatively, the sedentary nature of clerical and executive positions can also contribute to the risk of urolithiasis.

Assessing the Awareness and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccination and Aids Factors among Jordanian People: A cross-sectional Study

This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among the Jordanian population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a validated questionnaire. The awareness and attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine were assessed via five-item and seven-item scales, respectively. The survey results were analyzed using SPSS with a chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression. A total of 407 participants were enrolled, with the majority being female (74.9%), under 49 years old (73.2%), holding a bachelor's degree (57.7%), and working in the private sector (46.2%). Results revealed a fairly high level of awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine (51.4%), with no significant association between awareness and demographic characteristics. While 51.4% of the participants perceived the importance of getting the vaccine, only 37.1% agreed that the newly developed vaccine was safe, and 77.4% expressed a preference for natural immunity. The overall attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination appears cautiously optimistic, with 60.2% of respondents scoring above Bloom's 60.0% cutoff point, despite mixed opinions on vaccine safety and necessity. Moreover, attitudes towards the vaccine showed a significant association with participants' age and occupation. Among the age group of 18-29 years old, 47.6% had a positive attitude towards the vaccine, compared to 33.3% in the 30-49 years old group, and 38.5% in the ≥50 years old group. In terms of occupation, 30.7% in the public sector had a positive attitude, compared to 44.1% in the private sector and 48.5% among students. Given the mixed but cautiously optimistic attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination observed among the Jordanian population, this study underscores the critical importance of targeted educational and communication strategies. Such initiatives should focus on enhancing the perception of vaccine safety and efficacy to improve vaccination acceptance and uptake across different age and occupational groups within Jordan.

Numbing Effect of Emotional Exhaustion on COVID-19 Fear and Contrasting Effect on Job Satisfaction and Quality of Work Life Among Indian Healthcare Workers

The study conceptualises COVID-19 fear among healthcare workers as a job resource (meaningfulness of work) and job demand (physical and emotional demands), while exploring its effect on healthcare workers’ job satisfaction and quality of work life. The potential numbing effect of emotional exhaustion on COVID-19 fear is studied in the proposed framework. Data were collected from 202 Indian healthcare workers using standardised scales and analysed using Smart PLS 2.0. The results indicate that COVID-19 fear has a significant positive relationship with job satisfaction and a significant negative association with quality of work. The study results validate the hypotheses that COVID-19 fear simultaneously acts as a job resource and job demand. COVID-19 fear had an indirect, negative effect on job satisfaction via reduced quality of work. Emotional exhaustion in healthcare workers reduced healthcare workers’ COVID-19 fears, suggesting a numbing effect of emotional exhaustion on the arousal of emotions. The study is among the first, to the best of our knowledge, that identify the same factor (COVID-19 fear) as both a job resource as well as a job demand for an occupational group (healthcare workers). The ability of COVID-19 fear to simultaneously increase the meaningfulness of the job for healthcare workers and reduce their quality of work life suggests that healthcare administrators need to espouse policies that simultaneously enable healthcare workers to perceive strong emotions that make the meaning of their job salient and buffer them from the emotional, cognitive and physical demands consequences.

How will I break AI? Post-Luddism in the AI age: Fuzzy MCDM synergy

This study proposes a fuzzy multi-criteria model to assess the risk of unemployment among professionals in the communication sector in Turkey, prompted by the rapid development and evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The method integrates Fuzzy The Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (F-DEMATEL) and Fuzzy Logarithm Methodology of Additive Weights (F-LMAW) procedures. Data were collected from 20 experts representing professions such as public relations, advertising, journalism, and design through a 12-question survey. In the analysis, the F-DEMATEL procedure was initially employed to determine attitudes towards AI technologies, followed by the application of the F-LMAW procedure to assess the magnitude of AI's impact on occupational groups. Findings reveal a nuanced stance: while professionals acknowledge the necessity of AI for their work, they are unwilling to accept unemployment due to more advanced AI. This newly identified structure, termed Post-Luddism, highlights concerns over technological unemployment, particularly pronounced in professions like journalism where job prospects are limited and creative thinking is paramount. In other communication fields, the intensive use of technology mitigates fears of AI harm. However, even in journalism, there exists a propensity to perceive AI as detrimental. These insights shed light on communication professionals' apprehensions and attitudes towards AI's effects. Policymakers and stakeholders can leverage this understanding to formulate strategic measures, considering the divergent perspectives among professional groups regarding AI, towards mitigating potential unemployment risks and fostering AI-adaptive strategies.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and recurrent Tuberculosis: A retrospective cohort in Peruvian military workers

BackgroundThe role played by type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in the occurrence of recurrent tuberculosis is still uncertain. Military personnel are an occupational group with an increased risk for tuberculosis exposure due to their activities. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort to study the association between DM2 and recurrent TB in military workers who have been previously treated for tuberculosis at the Central Military Hospital in Lima, Peru, between 2016 and 2017. We evaluated the risk between DM2 and recurrent TB using Nelson-Aalen graphical analysis and Cox regression stratified by TB cured with hazard ratio (HR) calculation adjusted for confounders. Results. We evaluated 220 workers with a mean age of 23.2 ± 7.8 years (96.8 % male). DM2 and recurrent TB frequency were 11.8 % and 5.0 %, respectively. Those with DM (36.5 %) presented a greater proportion of recurrent TB than those without DM2 (10.5 %). The cumulative risk for recurrent TB increases faster among workers with DM2 (p = 0.025, LR chi-squared test). Cox regression stratified by type of cured TB did not show an association between DM2 and recurrent TB (HR: 3.67; 95 %CI: 1.00–13.46). Conclusion. The cumulative risk for recurrent TB increases faster in patients with DM than in those without DM2. DM2 is not associated with the time of apparition of recurrent TB in military workers.

Short-acting opioid prescriptions and Workers' Compensation using theNational Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Short-acting opioids have been utilized for pain management with little known about their use in patients on Workers' Compensation (WC) insurance. Our goal was to investigate this association in the ambulatory care setting. Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, visits from patients aged 18-64 during the years 2010 until 2018 were evaluated (excluding 2017 due to data availability). Demographic and co-morbidity data from each visit was obtained along with the visit year. The first short-acting opioid medication prescribed in the database was considered. Survey-weighted frequencies were evaluated. Logistic regression estimated the crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals for the use of short-acting opioid prescription. There were 155,947 included visits with 62.5% for female patients. Most patients were White with 11.7% identifying as Black, and 6% identifying as another race. Over 13% of the sample was of Hispanic descent. WC was the identified insurance type in 1.6% of the sample population. Of these patients, 25.6% were prescribed a short-acting opioid, compared with 10.1% of those with another identified insurance. On multivariable regression, Black patients had increased odds of being prescribed a short-acting opioid compared to white patients (OR: 1.22, 95%CI: 1.11-1.34). Those on WC had 1.7-fold higher odds of being prescribed short-acting opioids (95%CI: 1.46-2.06). Certain patient characteristics, including having WC insurance, increased the odds of a short-acting opioid prescription. Further work is needed to identify prescribing patterns in specific high-risk occupational groups, as well as to elicit potential associated health outcomes.

Translators’ and interpreters’ engagement with professional development in Australia: An analysis of key factors

Professional development aims to facilitate the maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and has become a standard or even compulsory component of professional practice for many occupational groups. This paper traces the uptake of professional development amongst certified translators and interpreters in Australia, where in 2014 it was introduced as a requirement for newly-certified practitioners only, and in 2019 for all holders of translation or interpreting certification from the national certifying authority. Based on responses gained from a sample of 3,268 practitioners, we report high uptake overall with little variation according to level of qualifications. Slightly lower uptake rates are recorded only amongst ‘newcomers’ with less experience while for all others, it is consistently high. Lower uptake rates are recorded amongst those who work 1-10 hours per week and those earning up to A$10,000 per year compared to others working more hours and those earning more. A desire for more work does not co-occur with elevated levels of PD uptake. The data presented reflects the reported experiences of those who had already been required to engage with PD, those for whom this requirement was new with a three-year time window to undertake PD, as well as those for whom it still remains optional. These findings contribute to our understanding of PD uptake amongst a professional group whose engagement with post-certification training has been under-studied. Findings may inform relevant stakeholders in other countries considering measures to arrest atrophy and extend the skill sets of practising translators and interpreters.

Development of the Russian version of the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire COPSOQ III and its adaptation in various occupational groups

Introduction. The presence of psychosocial risks at work is associated with problems of psycho-emotional and somatic health of workers. Currently in the Russian Federation, there are no validated tools for assessing and managing psychosocial risk that meet international standards.&#x0D; The purpose of the study. linguistic and cultural adaptation of the Russian version of the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire COPSOQ III, including testing of employees in various occupational fields.&#x0D; Materials and methods. In accordance with international standards and rules of the COPSOQ International Network, there was carried out a procedure for linguistic and cultural adaptation of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire which included several stages: direct translation of all questions (146 items) of COPSOQ III from English into Russian; the formation of two independent direct translation options, on the basis of which the experts of the national group formed a preliminary Russian version of COPSOQ III; reverse translation of the preliminary version and harmonization of translations; discussion and formation of national versions of COPSOQ III (short, medium and long); creation of a test medium (standard) version of COPSOQ in Russian; surveying and interviewing employees of institutions of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing for COPSOQ testing; approval of the final version of COPSOQ III in Russian. &#x0D; Results. In the process of linguistic and cultural adaptation, there was formed the final version of the COPSOQ III questionnaire in Russian, equivalent to the original and corresponding to the ethnolinguistic features of the population. As part of the creation of the Russian-language version of the COPSOQ III questionnaire, it was tested by two hundred ninety employees of institutions of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing in the Moscow region. Based on the results of a survey and interviews with employees, acceptable indicators of external validity and usability of the Russian version of the tool were established.&#x0D; Limitations. The occupational groups studied are limited to voluntary research participants, the range of problems studied is limited to the questions of the questionnaire, quantitative and qualitative parameters: 290 respondents, departmental affiliation and features of corporate culture: employees of institutions of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing, sociocultural features: subjective perception of the questions and respondents’ doubts about the anonymity and confidentiality of the study.&#x0D; Conclusion. In accordance with international rules and standards, in the process of linguistic and cultural adaptation, a Russian version of the COPSOQ III questionnaire has been developed. To use the Russian version of COPSOQ III in domestic practice and scientific research, it is necessary to assess its psychometric properties, objectivity, reliability, and specificity as part of the validation procedure.

Social Determinants of Health and Well-being: An Analysis of the Northeast Migrant Workers Living in Delhi

This research article aims to analyze migrants’ health and well-being in the context of Northeast Migrant Workers Living in Delhi. The World Health Organization (WHO) has considered the health of migrants as an important area of inquiry for policy making and the paper is post-migration lived experiences of the workers, which is related to the policy making agenda. An Existing conceptual framework of the social determinants of health and well-being are corroborated. The research design is an empirical work based on the selection of seven urban villages and five residential localities in Delhi. The study population is the Northeast migrant workers working in six occupational groups in the last 1-10 years in the age group 18-44 years with a sample of 120 respondents of both genders male and female including transgender persons. The data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire followed by in-depth interviews from January 2017 to February 2018 and used qualitative and quantitative data analysis in my research. Among 120 migrant workers, 77.5% reported anxiety, 75.83% life insecurity, 70.83% alienation, 53.33% developed anger, 47.5% vulnerability, 43.33% lack of motivation, 42.5% loneliness, 41.66% feeling of resentment, 40.83% back and joint pains, 39.16% emotional crisis, 38.33% low self-esteem, 35.83% poor concentration, 33.33% self-depreciation, 25.83% poor vision, 2.5% miscarriage. The study shows that the distributions of self-reported health and well-being consequences are unevenly distributed and anxiety is to be found more reported among the migrant workers. The result was cross-checked among the Northeast migrant workers and it was found out that the social determinants such as socio-cultural differences, social discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes against the migrants play important determinants influencing the health and wellbeing of the migrants at the place of destination. Post-migration experience has both positive and negative consequences of health and well-being. The more social networks there are, the better is resilience to adapt to the new environment for better health and well-being and its coping mechanism.

Neurovegetative responses in medical staff of maternity institutions

Introduction. Factors of the labour process influence on the adaptive capabilities of the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems in workers. &#x0D; Purpose of the study. The study of the possible relationship between the indicator of adaptation of regulatory systems of heart rate variability and the intensity of the labour process in doctors and nurses in obstetric institutions of the second and third levels. &#x0D; Materials and methods. The intensity of the labour process was determined by the method of timing. To calculate the adaptation index in the trend in the work shift, the hardware-software complex “Varicard 2.51” was used. Two hundred twenty eight doctors and nurses were examined. The studies were carried out on the basis of obstetric institutions of the second and third levels of the cities of the Central Federal District: Ryazan, Kolomna, Lipetsk, Smolensk. Statistical processing of research results was carried out using standard methods (p&lt;0.05). &#x0D; Results. The studies were carried out on the basis of obstetric institutions of the second and third level in some cities of the Central Federal District: Ryazan, Kolomna, Lipetsk, Smolensk. The data obtained in the study of the peculiarities of the regulatory potential in medical workers of various occupational groups made it possible to get an idea of ​​the influence of the factors of the labour process on the adaptive resources, assessed by the indicators of the temporal analysis. The data obtained made it possible to identify a direct correlation between the intensity of the labour process and the developing neurovegetative responses of the organism, which were reflected in the adaptation index in ccupational groups of obstetrician-gynecologists, nurse anesthetists, and midwives of perinatal centers. &#x0D; Limitations. The studies were carried out in small groups taking into account the trend in the work shift, which opens up the prospect of studying the issue in the age aspect in large groups.&#x0D; Conclusion. The results of the study can be used to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of occupationally conditioned overstrain of the organism’s adaptive systems.

Semenology of Infertile Men Reported at a Tertiary Level Military Hospital of Bangladesh

Introduction: A very simple, cheap, easily available and non-invasive approach has made routine semen analysis the most important tool for diagnosis of male fertility. Objective: To determine I) the percentage of abnormality in semen parameters present in the husbands of infertile couples, II) the effect of occupation on abnormal parameters and iii) the effect of increasing age on semen quality. Methods: A cross sectional retrospective study was designed in a period of April 2019 to March 2020 on the basic semen analysis reports of the husbands of infertile couples reporting to the fertility clinic of a tertiary level military hospital of Bangladesh. Results: Out of 851 couples only 372 were excluded from female cause. At least 44% husbands showed at least one abnormality in their semen parameters according to WHO 2010 criteria and out of them 3.8% were azospermic. Almost all abnormalities showed more severity in the patients reporting from non-military background. Significant differences were demonstrated in the mean values in semen parameters like volume, concentration and motility between different occupational groups. Mean values of sperm concentration between different age groups showed significant changes. Values of other parameters also showed gradual decrease with increase of age but differences were not significant. Conclusions: The present study showed that even 56% normozoospermic husbands can be partners of infertile couples. Occupation and age affect male fertility. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 19, No 1 (June) 2023: 66-71

Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths in Maryland (2018), by Industry and Occupation.

Opioid-related overdose deaths (OROD) increase annually, yet little is known about workplace risk factors. This study assessed differences in OROD rates across industry and occupation in Maryland, in addition to demographic differences within industry and occupation. The 2018 State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System was used to compare OROD between industries and occupations. The leading industries in OROD included the following: construction, manufacturing, and transportation and warehousing. Occupational groups were similar: construction and extraction, production, and transportation and material moving. There were also differences by sex (greater rates in men), age (greater rates in older workers), and race/ethnicity (varied patterns in rates). Employers and state leaders should work collaboratively to target prevention and intervention for workplaces at highest risk for OROD. Construction was highest and needs supports that respond to the workplace culture.

Reflections on the strategy of hospital development based on the characteristics of new hospitals.

The disease spectrum is constantly changing, meaning patients' medical characteristics are complex and varied, and hospital operations are facing great challenges. To provide a basis for formulating relevant policies, promoting the continuous improvement of medical quality, improving the efficiency of medical services and proposing corresponding countermeasures. Information on the first page of the medical cases of patients discharged from 2020-2021 in the case management system of The Second People's Hospital of Zhangye City was collected, and statistical analysis was performed in terms of the origin, age, gender, occupation and main diagnosis of the patients. The database was established using Excel software, and statistical description was performed using SPSS 23.0 software, in which the main indicators were the number of cases and relative numbers (%). The total number of inpatients in the hospital exhibited an overall upward trend, with the number in 2021 increasing by 40.53% compared with the previous year. Among them, 0.75% of the inpatients resided outside the province and 99.25% resided within the province. The proportion of inpatients within the city was 98.86%, including 85.50% in Ganzhou District and 14.5% in the five surrounding counties (districts). In 2021, the number of inpatients in the five surrounding districts increased by 60.67% compared with the previous year. The occupational structure of the inpatients was mainly farmers, accounting for 64.68%, which was higher than all other occupational groups, while public employees accounted for 17.9%. Inpatients aged 60 years and above accounted for 37.75%. In terms of disease spectrum ranking, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, injury and oncological system diseases ranked in the top five of the presented diseases, accounting for 64.47% of the total number of inpatients. The patients of the new hospital are mainly elderly patients and local farmers. The hospital development should be based on the disease characteristics of this group, improving the diagnosis and treatment capacity of the departments and strengthening the capacity building of the hospital and the level of the medical services.

Personal resources for addressing the work demands of Ukrainian oncologists in stressful crisis situations

BackgroundMany work-related stresses are experienced by oncologists. Ukraine is currently undergoing numerous crises, including the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and military conflicts, which represent stressful situations. The aim of this study was to explore the personal resources that Ukrainian oncologists use to cope with work demands in a situation featuring manifold crises. This study identified the ways in which people deal with stressful situations and the roles that they play in shaping the challenging situations that they encounter (work-related behavior) as well as how they cope with stress (stress management).MethodsForty oncologists (18 men and 22 women) working in a clinic in Kharkiv (Ukraine) with an average age of 46.3 ± 13.37 years (ranging from 26 to 74 years) participated in this study. The occupational psychological survey consisted of the Work-Related Behavior and Experience Patterns (German: Arbeitsbezogenes Verhaltens- und Erlebensmuster, AVEM) questionnaire, which was developed by Schaarschmidt and Fischer, and the Differential Stress Inventory (DSI), which was developed by Léfevre and Kubinger.Results65% of oncologists exhibited AVEM risk pattern A or B. No gender differences were observed with regard to the distribution of AVEM patterns. Women obtained significantly higher scores than did men on only one dimension: experience of social support (4.86 vs. 3.44; p = 0.045). When the DSI categories were differentiated by gender, no significant differences were observed. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a medium-sized correlation between perfection striving and palliative coping (ρ = 0.404).ConclusionsFew gender-based differences in work-related behaviors, experiences, and stress management strategies are evident among oncologists. AVEM risk patterns are more prevalent among Ukrainian oncologists than among comparable occupational groups, and interventions in the context of health management are recommended.

Prevalence and network analysis of internet addiction, depression and their associations with sleep quality among commercial airline pilots: A national survey in China

ObjectiveAirline pilots are members of a unique occupational group that is often confronted with sleep routine disruptions, yet relatively few studies have examined their mental health status. This study assessed the prevalence and network structure of internet addiction, depression and sleep quality problems in commercial airline pilots. MethodA total of 7055 airline pilots were included in analyses. Internet addiction and depression were measured with the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The network model was constructed based on an Ising model and its association with sleep quality was evaluated using a flow procedure. ResultsInternet addiction, depression and sleep quality were common among airline pilots. The prevalence of internet addiction was 8.0 % (95 % CI: 7.3–8.6 %), while the rates of depression and poor sleep quality were 23.3 % (95 % CI: 22.3–24.2 %) and 33.0 % (95 % CI: 31.9–34.1 %), respectively. In the depression and internet addiction network model, “Fatigue” (PHQ4; Expected Influence (EI): 2.04) and “Depressed/moody/nervous only while being offline” (IAT20; EI: 1.76) were most central symptoms while “Fatigue” (PHQ4; Bridge EI: 1.30) was also the most important bridge symptom. The flow network model of sleep quality with internet addiction and depression showed that “Appetite” (PHQ5) had the strongest positive association with poor sleep quality. ConclusionInternet addiction, depression and sleep quality were common among airline pilots and warrant regular screening and timely treatment. Strategies to improve sleep hygiene may be useful in preventing onsets or exacerbations in depression and internet addiction among airline pilots.