Older Professionals Research Articles

Psycho-emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing professionals in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study

Aim and objectivesTo analyse the levels of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and burnout among nursing professionals working in the Imbabura region of Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the contributing socio-occupational factors.BackgroundThe high demand for care of COVID-19 patients led to increased work pressure on nurses, owing to increased demands for care and shortages of medical supplies and protective equipment.DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire addressed to nursing professionals who cared for COVID-19 patients.MethodsThe questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, the Spanish adaptation of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-Spanish), Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) for the evaluation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the Spanish adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS-Spanish) for burnout assessment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.ResultsOf the 782 participants, 88.6% had a high level of burnout (MBI-HSS-Spanish scale score > 27). Female nurses, nurses with eight-hour work shifts, and older professionals exhibited high levels of anxiety and depression. Prolonged working hours in COVID-19 patient care services were found to be a risk factor for burnout and post-traumatic stress.ConclusionsParticipating nurses presented with a high level of chronic work stress and exhibited signs of anxiety and depression during the period under consideration. Providing nurses with psychological support measures and performing liaison consultations will alleviate the psychological burden on nurses.Relevance to clinical practiceThe study has shown that accounting for the environments where the emotional impact is greatest and how to reduce it would not only reduce anxiety, depression, and burnout in nurses but also improve the quality of care, not only in pandemic.Patient or public contributionNurses contributed to the conduct of the study by participating in the data collection via questionaries.

Personal Ethics and Ethical Leadership in The Face of The Resolution of Dilemmas and Problematic Situations in Chilean Graduates

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between personal ethics and deontological leadership in Chilean graduates, with the purpose of determining whether a high level of personal ethics in leaders influences the resolution of moral dilemmas and problematic situations in the institutional environment. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on concepts and theories about professional ethics, deontological leadership, and university ethics training. Theories and models such as Applied Ethics, Business Ethics and the deontological theory of ethics stand out. Method: A quantitative methodology with a survey design was adopted. 207 graduates of various careers from the Universidad Austral de Chile participated. Three instruments were used: the Ethical Leadership Questionnaire, the Ethical Dilemmas of Business Culture Questionnaire, and the Personal Ethics survey of collaborators. Data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics 23 and SPSS AMOS 23, performing exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes. Results and Discussion: The results revealed that a high level of personal ethics is crucial to exercise effective deontological leadership. Significant differences in ethical perception between genders and ages were identified, suggesting that women and older professionals better manage ethical dilemmas. A negative correlation was observed between tolerance to unethical behaviors and the ability to solve ethical dilemmas. Implications of Research: Practical implications include the need to incorporate rigorous ethical training into university curricula to develop ethical leaders. Theoretically, the study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between personal ethics and deontological leadership, proposing that personal ethics is an essential precursor for ethical leadership in organizations. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by empirically demonstrating the importance of personal ethics in deontological leadership. Their innovative approach and the discoveries made can influence training and professional practices in the educational and business field.

Youth is Prized in Medicine, Old Age is Valued in Law: Analysis of Media Narratives Over 200 Years.

This is the first study to explore how age has influenced depictions of doctors and lawyers in the media over the course of 210 years, from 1810 to 2019. The media represents a significant platform for examining age stereotypes and possesses tremendous power to shape public opinion. Insights could be used to improve depictions of older professionals in the media. This study aims to understand how age shapes the portrayals of doctors and lawyers. Specifically, it compares the difference in sentiments toward younger and older doctors as well as younger and older lawyers in the media over 210 years. Leveraging a 600-million-word corpus of American media publications spanning 210 years, we compiled top descriptors (N=478,452) of nouns related to youth × occupation (eg, younger doctor or physician) and old age × occupation (eg, older lawyer or attorney). These descriptors were selected using well-established criteria including co-occurrence frequency and context relevance, and were rated on a Likert scale from 1 (very negative) to 5 (very positive). Sentiment scores were generated for "doctor/physician," "young(er) doctor/physician," "old(er) doctor/physician," "lawyer/attorney," "young(er) lawyer/attorney," and "old(er) lawyer/attorney." The scores were calculated per decade for 21 decades from 1810 to 2019. Topic modeling was conducted on the descriptors of each occupation in both the 1800s and 1900s using latent Dirichlet allocation. As hypothesized, the media placed a premium on youth in the medical profession, with portrayals of younger doctors becoming 10% more positive over 210 years, and those of older doctors becoming 1.4% more negative. Meanwhile, a premium was placed on old age in law. Positive portrayals of older lawyers increased by 22.6% over time, while those of younger lawyers experienced a 4.3% decrease. In the 1800s, narratives on younger doctors revolved around their participation in rural health care. In the 1900s, the focus shifted to their mastery of new medical technologies. There was no marked change in narratives surrounding older doctors from the 1800s to the 1900s, though less attention was paid to their skills in the 1900s. Narratives on younger lawyers in the 1800s referenced their limited experience. In the 1900s, there was more focus on courtroom affairs. In both the 1800s and 1900s, narratives on older lawyers emphasized their prestige, especially in the 1900s. Depending on the occupation, one's age may either be seen as an asset or a liability. Efforts must be expended to ensure that older professionals are recognized for their wealth of knowledge and skills. Failing to capitalize on the merits of an older workforce could ultimately be a grave disservice not only to older adults but to society in general.

Exploring the Black Box of Managing Total Rewards for Older Professionals in the Canadian Financial Services Sector—CORRIGENDUM

Exploring the Black Box of Managing Total Rewards for Older Professionals in the Canadian Financial Services Sector—CORRIGENDUM

Ageing Organizations: Reviewing the Literature and Making a Few Recommendations for Human Resource Management

In an ageing society, organizations must consider the inclusion and effective management of older professionals if they wish to remain competitive. Besides having harmful and far-reaching effects on people’s health, age discrimination in the workplace leads to absenteeism, lower levels of productivity, and early retirement. Within such a context, this problematic organizational feature of most Western, now ageing, organizations and labour markets starts gaining more relevance. However, to date there has been little discussion, research, or policy development to ensure that older employees’ skills and capabilities are optimally put to use by organizations without the occurrence of ageism. We present the results of a systematic literature review based on 30 studies in the context of ageing organizations to make recommendations for human resource management. We suggest an approach to effectively manage intergenerational organizations, reducing the occurrence of age discrimination and its related consequences, as well as to achieve high employee engagement. Our review indicates that a strong ethics framework that is continuously followed, disseminated, and updated by management, together with a combination of efforts from all stakeholders, may accomplish the best results towards a culture that respects and values people of all ages at work, positively impacting on productivity.

Conventional and living guideline for schizophrenia: barriers and facilitating factors in guideline implementation

This study aims to investigate the barriers and facilitators to guideline adherence for the print format of the German schizophrenia guideline as well as for the concept of a digital living guideline for the first time. For this purpose, the schizophrenia guideline was transferred to a digital guideline format within the web-based tool MAGICapp. An online survey was performed under participation of mental healthcare professionals (medical doctors, psychologists/psychotherapists, psychosocial therapists, caregivers) in 17 hospitals for psychiatry in Southern Germany and a professional association for German neurologists and psychiatrists. 524 participants opened the survey, 439 completed the demographic questions and commenced the content-related survey and 309 provided complete data sets. Results indicate a higher occurrence of knowledge-related barriers for the living guideline. The print version is associated with more attitude-related and external barriers. Older professionals reported more attitude-related barriers to a living guideline compared to younger professionals. Differences between professions regarding barriers were found for both formats. Various barriers exist for both guideline formats and a need for facilitators was expressed across professions. Many of the mentioned obstacles and facilitators can be more easily addressed with living guidelines. However, also living guidelines face barriers. Thus, the introduction of these new formats alone cannot lead to sustainable behavior change regarding guideline adherence. Yet, living guidelines seem to be a cornerstone to improved and tailored guideline implementation as they facilitate to keep recommendations up to date and to address the need of individual professional groups.

115 A Challenging and Motivational Presentation to Past, Present and Future Animal and Forage Scientists and Professionals

Abstract Today’s 20-something graduate students will be close to 50-something professionals by midcentury. They have the opportunity, perhaps even the ethical and moral duty, to sustainably increase supply of animal source foods in humanity’s global food supply. The world these animal and forage science professionals will serve will contain perhaps 2 billion more human beings, with most of this increase coming from people living to 70 years old and beyond. Malnutrition, broadly and properly understood, is already an existential crisis today. Global agriculture will be required to produce not just more food, but food of greater nutritional value. Animal agriculture in general, and ruminant animal agriculture in particular, is an essential part of all food systems. Any sincere conversation about sustainable food systems must include efforts to increase the affordability and accessibility of culturally appropriate animal source foods. Improved livestock-cropping systems, which will include forages of various types, offer the potential to produce more food from the same land without increasingly expensive inputs of fertilizer and energy while stewarding precious resources. The unique ecological role of ruminant animals and their essential role in converting human-inedible biomass into high-quality sources of essential nutrition will be a fundamental part of these systems. The sustainable intensification of global animal agriculture must become a high priority of funding for research and teaching during the next two and one half decades. These realities exist, however, in a climate dominated by anti-animal agriculture messaging in media and political debates. What can we older professionals be doing to recruit, train and equip the next generation(s) of animal and forage scientists who must meet this challenge?

Prevalência e fatores associados à síndrome de burnout em profissionais da saúde indígena no Brasil

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of burnout syndrome in higher education health professionals working in indigenous health in Brazil, and to identify associated factors. This is an observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study. Data collection was based on the application of a questionnaire (personal profile and MBI-HSS) and included 513 professionals. The prevalence of burnout was 65%. Greater likelihood of emotional exhaustion was observed among younger professionals, who had worked in indigenous health for longer time, in the care function and with lower level of tranquility when working during the pandemic. Lower likelihood of having low personal accomplishment at work was observed among older professionals, professionals who had worked in indigenous health for shorter time, who worked in clinical care during the pandemic and those with lower level of tranquility when working during the pandemic. Greater likelihood of depersonalization was found among married professionals, who worked in clinical care during the pandemic and those with lower level of tranquility when working during the pandemic. This study contributes with an important assessment of the existence of BS predictors in health professionals working in indigenous health.

Scoping review of intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence and their outcomes

Due to the rapid digitalization of healthcare, it is important to strengthen professionals’ digital competence, particularly to support older professionals to stay in work until retirement age. People of different ages have different digital competencies. Younger generations are ‘digital natives’ who have learned to use digital devices fluently from a young age, while older generations have had to learn to use them in adulthood. The increasing number of new technologies causes in some cases stress, especially for more older healthcare workers. Intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence may offer a way to narrow digital competence gaps in healthcare. The aim of this scoping review was to identify current evidence regarding intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence, and their outcomes. The results can be used to help develop methods for intergenerational digital competence development and improve healthcare professionals’ digital competence. A scoping review was conducted across four databases (Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest) without time limits. The search produced 2905 references, of which 23 studies are included in the review. Thematic analysis was used to analyze these studies’ results. The results showed that a key method for intergenerational digital competence development is reverse mentoring, where a less experienced person serves as a mentor to a more experienced one. Intergenerational digital competence development methods can be done one-on-one or in groups, in classes or on digital platforms. The outcomes of these methods illustrated that they promote mutual learning, increase the digital competence of older adults and the work life skills of young mentors, and narrow the gap between generations. Using such methods, it is possible to make better use of each generation’s expertise. Intergenerational learning could suggest ways of narrowing the digital gap and enhancing intergenerational communication. Healthcare could benefit from implementing intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence, increasing the digital competence of healthcare professionals, and narrowing the gap between generations.

Representações Sociais de Carreira: Um Estudo com Profissionais de Diferentes Idades

Abstract This research aims to analyze the formation and structure of career social representations (SR) for professionals of different ages who work in the business area. The Theory of Social Representations (TSR) guided the study carried out in a sample of 174 young professionals (between 18 and 29 years old) and 105 older professionals (from 45 years old). Methodologically, a questionnaire containing questions in free evocation format was applied, and the data were submitted to OpenEvoc and Iramuteq software. The results of the structure and dynamics of career SR for the groups indicated, at the same time, the presence of similar and distinct elements. Moreover, these results contradict, in part, the literature on career and generational characteristics, indicating the relevance of aspects related to the socio-historical context to explain career SR. The data contribute to the understanding of career SR, enabling new debates and (re)readings.

High anesthetic (isoflurane) indoor pollution is associated with genetic instability, cytotoxicity, and proliferative alterations in professionals working in a veterinary hospital.

This is the first study to monitor anesthetic pollution in veterinary operating rooms (VOR) and assess the toxicological impact of the inhalational anesthetic isoflurane (exposed group) compared to matched volunteers (control group). DNA damage was evaluated in mononuclear cells by the comet assay while genetic instability (including micronucleus-MN), cell proliferation, and cell death markers were assessed by the buccal MN cytome assay. Residual isoflurane concentrations in VOR (air monitoring) lacking the scavenging system were assessed by infrared spectrophotometry; the mean concentration was 11ppm (≥ 5 times above the international recommended threshold). Comet assay results did not differ between groups; however, both younger exposed professionals (with higher week workload) compared to older individuals exposed for the same period and older professionals with greater time of exposure (years) compared to those in the same age group with fewer years of exposure presented higher DNA damage. The exposed group had a higher frequency of MN, nuclear buds, binucleated cells, karyorrhexis, and karyolysis and a lower frequency of basal cells than the control group. Exposed women were more vulnerable to genetic instability and proliferative index; exposed men presented more cytotoxicity. High WAG exposure has deleterious effects on exposed professionals.

Prevalence and factors associated with compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, burnout in health professionals.

Constant exposure of health professionals to the pain and suffering of patients can adversely affect their emotional wellbeing. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the factors affecting the levels of secondary traumatic stress/compassion fatigue (STS/CF), burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS) of health professionals working in adult and paediatric Intensive Care Units (ICU) as well as in departments treating patients with serious illness in five hospitals in Crete. A descriptive cross-sectional survey with the use of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-CSF-R-IV) questionnaire. We enrolled medical, nursing and support staff working in the adult and paediatric ICU, emergency, oncology, haematology and neurosurgical departments, haemodialysis unit and operating theatre. 598 health professionals completed the questionnaire (response rate 73.2%). Significantly increased levels of STS/CF were observed in non - ICU as compared to ICU staff (p=.009) females compared to males (p < .001), those who have previously experienced a traumatic event (p < .004), nurses and support staff compared to doctors (p=.007 and p=.028 respectively), and people not working in a department by choice (p < .001). CS was higher for older professionals, personnel subjected to stress reduction techniques (p < .019) and professionals working with children or mixed adults and children population (p=.009). Rolling schedule and bad working conditions negatively affected CS (p=.02, p=.001). Increased BO levels were associated with younger age (p=.029) and showed a positive correlation with STS/CF (r=.356, p < .001). STS/CF is common in health professionals regardless of their profession, working department or hospital level. Non-ICU staff displayed higher STS/CF levels. Working in a department by choice ameliorates CS, BO and STS/CF. Health professionals need to be informed about the risks of projecting patients' suffering on themselves. Hospital managers and department heads are responsible to provide appropriate support.

What Can Motivate Me to Keep Working? Analysis of Older Finance Professionals’ Discourse Using Self-Determination Theory

The twin issues of population aging and critical talent shortages induce employers to encourage older workers to prolong their professional lives. Over the past two decades, studies have mainly examined which human resources practices influence older workers’ ability, motivation, and opportunity to continue working. Our conceptual lens rest on self-determination theory (SDT). This study explores how older professionals in the financial services sector may see how three psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are satisfied or frustrated through various management practices such as monetary rewards, benefits, career development, and work content and context. Our interviews with older finance professionals also show the relevance of a fourth need, beneficence, to understand their decision to continue to work. Results of this study are likely to be significant at both managerial and societal levels in the perspective of sustainable development or employability.

Exploring the Black Box of Managing Total Rewards for Older Professionals in the Canadian Financial Services Sector.

This study extends our knowledge about the management of older employees in the sector of financial services, which faces enormous transformational pressures (e.g., emergence of artificial intelligence, digital services). Based on the black box model of human resource management, we investigate how executives at 16 major financial institutions manage their total rewards to motivate their older professionals to stay at work longer. Top management's views towards older professionals underlie a firm's culture or climate, and more precisely, the extent of the perception that they are a strategic resource that needs focused management. Across firms, such adaptation (or lack thereof) is made through the following total rewards components: (1) flexibility in working time and place of work, (2) hiring of retirees, (3) hiring or promotion of older professionals, (4) role adjustment, (5) responsibilities and performancestandards, (6) monetary rewards, benefits, and (7) recognition, succession planning, and support for retirement planning or preparation. The black box model should be used in future research to understand which reward components work best in which contextsto motivate older workers to stay at work longer.

Mental health patterns during COVID-19 in emergency medical services (EMS)

PurposeThis study aims to explore patterns of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel's mental health, regarding their levels of anxiety, depression, stress, COVID-19 anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and well-being; and to explore variables that contribute to these patterns, among sociodemographic/professional and COVID-19 experience variables.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were 214 EMS personnel, who answered the Patient-Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Well-Being Questionnaire and COVID-19 related questions.FindingsEMS personnel showed an adequate psychological adjustment during COVID-19. Two clusters/patterns were found: the poorly (34%) and the well (66%) psychologically-adjusted. Personnel's age, COVID-19 fear and workplace security measures' adequacy contributed to which pattern they were more likely to belong to.Research limitations/implicationsDespite being cross-sectional and not controlling for pre-COVID-19 data, this study adds to the COVID-19 literature. Findings call for the need to explore: other COVID-19 fears; how personnel perceive workplace security measures; COVID-19 valid instruments; pre-COVID-19 data; and mental health patterns with different rescuers.Practical implicationsFindings explored EMS personnel's patterns of mental health during the COVID-19, as well as its covariates. Results allow to better prepare emergency management, which can develop prevention strategies focused on older professionals, COVID-19 related fears and how personnel assess security measures.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the scarce literature focused on COVID-19 mental health patterns instead of focussing on isolated mental health variables, as well as what contributes to these patterns. Moreover, it is one of the few studies that focused on EMS personnel rather than hospital staff.

P-50 PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS AMONG STUDENTS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AT THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF BAHIA

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a hepatotrophic virus of fecal-oral transmission. Occupational exposure in the health area is not considered a risk of HAV contagion. Adults are more likely to develop fulminant hepatitis. In Brazil, those over 20 years of age have a high prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies (IgGHAV). To study the prevalence of IgGHAV in college students (group 1) and professionals (group 2) of the health area of the Federal University of Bahia. The sample consisted of 335 individuals who completed an epidemiological questionnaire and in whom IgGHAV was studied in sera. IgGHAV was present in 56.9% of all individuals, being 43.9% susceptible. IgGHAV was in 94.4% of group 2 and in 48.8% of group 1 (p = 0.000). There were no statistical differences between ethnicities. There was an association between professional category and report of exposure to biological material (p = 0.017), but not between seropositivity and report of this exposure. These data reflect both occupational and environmental exposure. Greater seropositivity in older professionals can also mean greater environmental exposure throughout life. In this study, curiously, greater exposure to biological material did not have a significant association with seropositivity for HAV, recalling the importance of exposure also in the extra-academic community. This study showed that 43.9% of the individuals who start studies in the health area of our university are susceptible to contracting HAV infection, which generates an epidemiological reconsideration of the need for vaccination in this population in the vaccine calendar from Brazil concerning the last VHA outbreaks in special population as MSM. CAPES and CNPq.

Evaluation of the mental health of health professionals in the COVID-19 era. What mental health conditions are our health care workers facing in the new wave of coronavirus?

BackgroundThe aims of this study were to analyse the mental health and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of a broad sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Spain and to identify potential factors that have a significant effect on their mental health and HRQoL.MethodThis prospective cohort study comprised 2089 HCWs who completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7‐item (GAD‐7) Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9), the Impact Event Scale‐Revised (IES‐R), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the health‐related quality of life Questionnaire (EQ‐5D). Sociodemographic and clinical data in relation to Covid‐19 were also recorded. Descriptive statistics, univariable analysis and multivariable linear regression models were applied to identify factors associated with mental health and HRQoL.Results80.87% of participants were female and 19.13% male; 82.38% were aged under 55 years; 39.13% were physicians and 50.17% were nurses or auxiliaries; 80.42% of the health workers have directly treated patients with Covid‐19 and 12.28% have themselves tested positive for Covid‐19. 38.58% of HCWs had clinical depression; over half (51.75%) had clinical anxiety; 60.4% had clinical stress; and 21.57% had clinical insomnia. Older professionals (>55 years) reported lower rates of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and stress. Having worked directly with Covid‐19 patients appears to be an explanatory variable of suffering greater anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia, and of having a worse HRQoL amongst our HCWs. The group of HCWs suffering the worst mental state were nursing home workers.ConclusionsOur study confirms that symptomatology of anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, and HRQoL were affected amongst HCW during the Covid‐19 pandemic.

Viral Hepatitis in Dentistry – An overlooked contributor to disease burden and occupational hazard in India

Introduction: Dental professionals are considered to be at high-risk for contacting blood-borne pathogen transmissions. Thus, making it necessary for dentists to be aware on prevention, transmission and management of viral hepatitis. Objective: One day training programs for upskilling dental fraternity were conducted on 11th November 2019 and 11thFebruary 2020. Program also evaluated the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of dentists regarding infection control practices and oral manifestations of viral hepatitis. Methods: One-day training program viz. “Viral hepatitis in Dentistry” under project Programmed Approach to Knowledge And Sensitization on Hepatitis (PRAKASH) was organized and a cross-sectional study using 20-item-self-reported questionnaire was conducted among participating professionals from six states of India. Identifying information was removed during statistical analysis. Results: Total of 625 dental professionals were trained; of which 470 participated in the KAP study i.e. response rate was calculated to be 75% (470 out of 625). Females represented about 73.2% of the sample(n=470). Sample comprised of experts from all the branches of dentistry. Almost 97% of responders were from private dental institutes or clinics. Mean knowledge score was found to be 4.71 ± 2.04, however when compared with age, knowledge in older professionals &gt; 25 years was higher at 5.00 + 2.10 than participants’ aged&lt;25, 4.57 ± 2.00 (p value = 0.03). Participating professionals seems to be following precautionary practices regarding viral hepatitis in dental clinics in a comparable manner irrespective of their age i.e. mean practice score of 6.81 ± 1.82 in professionals’&lt; 25 years of age and mean practice score 6.81 ± 1.67 in trainees &gt; 25 years. Conclusion: Study raised concerns regarding poor knowledge about infection prevention control and management of viral hepatitis in dental settings. Limited interventions in terms of capacity building programs for dentists on viral hepatitis, highlight the necessity of continued education through such training programs.

Physical activity in health care professionals as a means of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A STROBE compliant cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to assess the physical activity level of health care professionals, as well as the differences by sex, age, academic background, and among different health care professions.This is an cross-sectional study.Health care settings in the Valencian Community, Spain.A total of 647 health care professionals.Physical activity was assessed with the European Health Interview Survey-Physical Activity Questionnaire (EHIS-PAQ) that includes the assessment of work-related physical activity, transport-related physical activity, health-enhancing physical activity, muscle-strengthening physical activity, and total physical activity.93.51% of all health care professionals were physically active at work. Transport-related physical activity and health-enhancing physical activity were significantly lower in women (21.62% vs 41.86%, P < .001; and 50.19% vs 68.99%, P < .001, respectively). In addition, compliance with health-enhancing and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines were lower in older professionals (42.7% vs 61.84%, P < .001; and 47.57% vs 61.84%, P < .001, respectively). Those with higher education were more compliant with health-enhancing and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines (58.55% vs 45.69%, P = .002; and 60.24% vs 48.28%, P = .003, respectively). Moreover, 67.98% of physiotherapists performed health-enhancing physical activity and 67.54% muscle-strengthening physical activity regularly, and significant differences in all outcomes were observed compared to the rest of health care professionals (P < .05). Technicians showed lower work-related and total physical activity than nurses and nursing assistants (74.55% vs 90.37%, P = .002; and 83.64% vs 95.72%, P < .001, respectively). Additionally, nursing assistants showed higher work-related physical activity compared to nurses (97.18% vs 90.37%, P = .008).Most health care professionals showed an appropriate level of physical activity. Men performed more transport-related and health-enhancing physical activity than women. Younger professionals and those with higher education were more compliant with health-enhancing and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines. Physiotherapists were more physically active when compared to the rest of health care professionals.

The right to die: Perspectives of mental health professionals in malta

IntroductionIn their professional work, mental health professionals are continually working with individuals in distress, who may express a wish to end their lives.ObjectivesTo understand the perspectives of mental health professionals towards a person’s right to die.MethodsA mixed-method technique was used: Stage 1 involved a validated online questionnaire sent to all professionals working within the public mental health services in Malta. Stage 2 consisted of a multidisciplinary discussion between six professionals asked to hypothetically manage a terminally ill patient requesting physician-assisted suicide. Thematic analysis was subsequently applied.ResultsThe majority of mental health professionals disagreed with allowing a person to commit suicide, even in situations of crippling debt, overwhelming despair and family dishonour. Terminal illness elicited a varied response (Figure 1)Older professionals and spiritual beliefs negatively impacted acceptability of suicide (Figure 2).The discussion revealed that professionals would assess individuals requesting to end their lives, with the aim of treating any mental illness and determining mental capacity. Figure 3 highlights factors explored during the assessment. Greatest emphasis is ultimately placed on individual autonomy.ConclusionsMental health professionals consider autonomy and self-determination as imperative in evaluating a person’s right to die. Professionals agreed that, after a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and within a regulatory legal framework, they would not impede a person with terminal illness to request physician-assisted suicide, provided that one is acting autonomously. The majority would however conscientiously object to actively assisting the terminal patient in ending one’s life, since this is deemed contradictory to their professional vow of non-maleficence.